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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Indian agreements bring huge benefits to the country; no harm to national security or sovereignty” – Minister Vijitha [Herath] explains in parliament | “Shanakiyan [previously] supported Rajapaksa and Pillayan” – Bimal [Rathnayake] criticises | Photograph: U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung meeting NPP General Secretary Nihal Abeysinghe Thinakaran: The motion to appoint an investigation committee to remove Tennakoon from the post of IGP passed unanimously with 151 votes | Prime minister meets with new IMF delegation | U.S. new tariff policy: President Anura Kumara writes to the USA president | Cabinet approves filling of 30,000 essential vacancies in government service |
Thinakkural: “The country might face a major crisis [over the U.S. tariff]; convene the all-party conference immediately” – Sajith |“Cabinet approval obtained; there is no threat to security due to the agreements signed with India; we received approval from the attorney general and the defence [sector]” – Vijitha Herath Thamilan: “[We] will not act against India; the agreements signed with India were Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)” – Vijitha Herath | “[We] will not bow to any country; no room for betrayal” – Nalinda Jayatissa | Resolution to appoint a committee of inquiry for the removal of Tennakoon passed in parliament |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: A letter from President Anura [Dissanayake] to Trump to untangle the tax issue | Wehera gas station fire: Four dead, four hospitalised; “A fire erupted with a loud noise when the gas tanks were being filled” – The boy who rode in the gas lorry states Divaina: The Wehera fire that burnt four to ashes was caused by a gas leak: “There was a gas smell and within two seconds the gas tanks exploded in a massive fire” – An injured employee states; four severely injured; one in critical condition Ada: The Proceeds of Crime Bill passed: “Not a single honest citizen of this country should worry about this law being brought about; there is no need to whine; the only ones that should be crying are thieves” – Minister of Justice | The committee resolution to dismiss the IGP passed |
Mawbima: The gas explosion in Kurunegala: Four dead; four injured; damage to neighbouring houses; a 48kg tank has exploded and landed in an adjoining garden | “SLTB drivers and conductors who used politics to get ahead to return to previous positions as drivers and conductors” – Bimal Rathnayake Dinamina: 151 votes for the motion to expel Deshabandu: Mujibur-Nishantha Kariyapper (sic), Ajith P. Perera in favour | “There’s nothing to be hidden about the Indo-Lanka agreements” – Vijitha Herath Aruna: “100,000 jobs at risk due to Trump’s taxation: immediately implement ECTA” – Wickremesinghe | “Call an all-party meeting” – Dilith Jayaweera requests the president | “The president has sent a letter to Trump” – Minister of Labour Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ceylon Today
“[The same] ‘BR’ defeated Gota and will defeat Anura” – Shanakiyan | “Shanakiyan supported Rajapaksa and Pillayan” – Bimal Rathnayake criticises
Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
Thinakaran, Virakesari: Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake stated in parliament yesterday (8th) that the allegations made by those who supported Rajapaksa [Rajapaksa camp] and Pillayan, who destroyed the people of the North and East, are baseless. He added that in 2005 they (the JVP) supported Rajapaksa only to defeat Ranil [Wickremesinghe]-Chandrika [Kumaratunga], and pointed out that they had never supported the Rajapaksas since then.
Thinakkural, Virakesari: Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam claimed that Basil Rajapaksa known as ‘BR’ was the reason for the fall of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and the same BR will be the reason for the defeat of the current government. He added that he had explained to his people (Tamils) that he had made a mistake in his politics in supporting the Rajapaksas.
“This [LG] election is for the survival of the Tamils; if fails, [we]
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“Introduce a new law to audit political parties to be transparent” – Dilith
Thamilan Addressing parliament yesterday (8th), Sarvajana Balaya MP Dilith Jayaweera claimed that there should be a law to audit the income and expenditure of political parties so that they can be transparent in their income sources and expenditure. |
“Cannot relax the GSP+ conditions; if not followed, the concession could be lost” – EU ambassador
Virakesari
Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka and The Maldives Carmen Moreno Raymundo stated that if Sri Lanka wants the GSP Plus tax concession, it must follow the conditions set by the European Union and that it must fulfil the agreements. She added that, otherwise, the GSP Plus tax concession will not be available. The ambassador noted that Sri Lanka itself is asking for the EU concession, and if it asks for that concession, Sri Lanka must behave accordingly. She further added that Sri Lanka cannot request the EU to relax its conditions while the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has not been removed yet though the EU has been insisting on it.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: ONLANKA
The Proceeds of Crime Bill passed
Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina
The Proceeds of Crime Bill was passed in parliament yesterday (8th). The bill was passed following its second reading in parliament by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara on behalf of the government. Nanayakkara also presented the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979 during yesterday’s session. Accordingly, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Dr. Rizvie Salih announced that the bill was passed without any amendments following its second and third readings.
“The ‘Parate execution’ law is now effective” – Harshana Suriyapperuma
Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna Deputy Minister of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma stated in parliament yesterday (8th) that the government will not further extend the suspension on ‘Parate execution’ and that it is effective now. Suriyapperuma told parliament that ‘Parate executions’ were suspended till March 31, 2024. The deputy minister added that the ‘Parate execution’ law is now effective and will not be extended further. Suriyapperuma made the statement while responding to a question raised by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa about the same. |
“100,000 jobs at risk due to Trump’s taxation: immediately implement ECTA” – Wickremesinghe
Aruna, Mawbima Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the 44% tariff imposed by the United States on Sri Lankan exports risks closing down a large number of industries in the country and causing the loss of around 100,000 jobs. He added that similarly, the widening trade deficit will also create a current account deficit, and with the overall external trade affected, a situation may arise in which the government will not be able to obtain the estimated revenue from tariffs and excise duties. Wickremesinghe further added that there are factors that the current government should consider when deciding on remedial measures. Accordingly, he suggested that the government must take all steps to conclude ECTA negotiations with India within three months to gain access to the Indian market. He also noted that the Thailand-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement should be implemented immediately. |
Foreign reserves have increased to USD 6.5 billion – CBSL
Dinamina, Ada
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) states that Sri Lanka’s official foreign reserves have increased to USD 6.51 billion. According to a recent report issued by the CBSL, the figure was recorded at the end of March 2025, representing a 7.1% increase compared to the USD 6.08 billion recorded at the end of February 2025. The CBSL states that the growth in reserves indicates a strengthening of the country’s external position, and one reason for this increase can be attributed to purchases of foreign currency in the domestic market.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily FT
“There’s nothing to be hidden about the Indo-Lanka agreements” – Vijitha Herath
Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath emphasised in parliament yesterday (8th) that there is nothing to be hidden regarding the agreements that were signed between India and Sri Lanka during PM Modi’s visit. Herath added that during the three-day official visit of the Indian prime minister, seven agreements were signed between India and Sri Lanka in several fields and that all of these agreements were approved by the Attorney General (AG) of Sri Lanka. He stated further that all these agreements were submitted to the AG and signed after extensive discussions with the respective ministerial officials, with the approval of the AG and the Cabinet, and that there is nothing to hide in these agreements. Herath stressed that these agreements have brought many benefits to the country and that under an NPP government no agreement will be signed that would challenge the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in any way.
Committee of inquiry to remove Deshabandu approved
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The resolution to appoint a committee of inquiry to investigate the removal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon over alleged misconduct and abuse of power was passed in parliament yesterday (8th). The motion was presented by NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra, and received 151 votes in favour, with no opposing votes.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. The gas explosion in Kurunegala: Four dead; four injured; damage to neighbouring houses; a 48kg tank has exploded and landed in an adjoining garden – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
2. Chamara and Viyalendran granted bail – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. The tariff issue: Dissanayake writes to Trump – Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
4. Pillayan arrested – Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Thamilan
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