DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Provincial council elections should be held soon; this is India’s stance” – High Commissioner Santosh Jha | “US violated UN agreement” – Minister Bimal Rathnayake states in Parliament regarding the Venezuela issue Thinakaran: Under the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ programme, new houses will replace those damaged by Cyclone Ditwah; work commences today in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala by the President | The agreement to construct the Indo-Lanka stadium has been signed |
Thinakkural: The depression formed in the Bay of Bengal may enter the country tonight; flood warning issued for North and East | Earthquakes in some parts of the hill country Thamilan: Do not interfere in the country’s internal affairs; Government condemns USA!; Minister Bimal highlights that Venezuelan President Maduro is a good person | President Anura to visit the North |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Prepared to face a disaster situation: a risk of strong winds and heavy rains – Meteorology Department Divaina: “Investigations into unusual transactions of the stock market to be launched” – Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) Professor Hareendra Dissabandara Mawbima: A mobile lab (bus) to detect drivers under the influence: samples to be taken at bus stations abruptly; can detect up to 12 drugs; results in three minutes | Strong winds and rains for many provinces: impact of deep depression to hit [country] tonight: further maritime travel discouraged
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Dinamina: Rs. 5 million for each house completely destroyed by the disaster: construction of new homes commences; President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to preside over the main ceremony Aruna: Depression to enter the country today between 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.: rainfall exceeding 150-200 mm in some places Anidda: Opposition objects to the extended state of emergency: the section Ranil brought forth for the Aragalaya has been included as well; affects notices and leaflets as well |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: AsianMirror
Shritharan’s activities in the Constitutional Council are not proper; ITAK must pay attention; Opposition raises red flag
Thinakkural, Virakesari
MP Dayasiri Jayasekara announced plans to lodge a formal complaint with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank regarding the government’s failure to appoint a qualified Auditor General.
Addressing the press yesterday, Jayasekara stated that the Constitutional Council’s repeated rejection of presidential nominees has left the position vacant, hindering the functions of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), and the Committee on Public Finance (COPF).
He also criticised the conduct of ITAK MP S. Shritharan, the representative for smaller political parties in the Council, and urged the ITAK to investigate the matter.
Jayasekara claimed the lack of a permanent appointment reflects improper government conduct that warrants international attention.
MP Jeevan requests to publish the plantation workers’ salary in the gazette
Thinakaran, Thinakkural Addressing parliament yesterday, CWC General Secretary MP Jeevan Thondaman urged the government to issue a gazette notification regarding the wage hike for plantation workers. He emphasised that the Wages Board must expedite this process to ensure plantation companies comply with the payment mandate. Thondaman noted that although the government announced a basic daily wage of LKR 1,750, estate managements face difficulties in implementing the increase, as companies have not yet issued the necessary circulars to estate managers. He stated that official government intervention through a gazette is essential to resolve these implementation issues. |
President agrees to release Mullikulam village; Navy accepts MP Ravikaran’s requestThamilan The Navy has agreed to release lands belonging to the public in the Mullikulam village of the Musali Divisional Secretariat in Mannar. ITAK MP Thurairasa Ravikaran stated that this agreement was reached during a Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Defence, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The discussions focused on the resettlement of nearly 400 families displaced since 2007 and the release of schools, jetties, and agricultural lands currently occupied by the Navy. Ravikaran stated that President Dissanayake confirmed he will visit Mannar on January 15 to personally oversee the land release process. |
“Justice will be served for Lasantha’s murder; previous rulers and Opposition members involved” – Bimal Rathnayake
Thinakaran
Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake informed parliament that individuals linked to the assassination of senior journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge were present in both the previous government and the Opposition.
Responding to a point of order raised by MP Ravi Karunanayake, the minister stated that the government is committed to ensuring justice and that formal investigations into the 17-year-old case are ongoing.
He noted that the Minister of Public Security and the cabinet spokesperson recently commented on the progress of inquiries into the murder and attacks on media institutions.
Rathnayake assured the House that the government will take necessary steps to expose the truth and uphold justice regarding the killing.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily News
“Mobile laboratories to detect drivers under the influence” – Bimal Rathnayake
Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina
Leader of the House and Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake, informed Parliament yesterday (8th) that the law will be strictly enforced against those driving vehicles under the influence not only of alcohol but also of any form of narcotics.
Minister Rathnayake stated that while there was previously no ability to punish those driving under the influence of narcotics, necessary provisions have now been made.
He noted that the law will be strictly applied to anyone operating a vehicle under the influence of any drug.
These remarks were made while presenting a series of Motor Traffic regulations to parliament for approval.
Rathnayake further mentioned that mobile laboratories will be deployed to bus stations to test blood samples of drivers and conductors for 12 types of narcotics.
Opposition objects to the extended state of emergency: the section Ranil brought forth for the Aragalaya has been included as wellAnidda Parties of the Opposition raised strong objections to the extension of the state of emergency, which was enforced under the Public Security Ordinance following Cyclone Ditwah. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday (7th), Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that the regulations within the Ordinance were originally formulated during the period of the Easter Sunday attacks and were later brought forward by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the Aragalaya period. |
“Discussions are successful: the UNP and the SJB will join hands” – Wajira AbeywardanaDivaina Chairperson of the UNP, Wajira Abeywardana, stated that the union of the UNP and the SJB is a certainty. Abeywardana added that representatives of the two parties have met on several occasions and discussed the union with the blessings of both the leaders of the two parties. He added further that the discussions have been very successful and that the working committees of the two parties have also reached an agreement. |
“Economy to grow by 4-5% in 2026” – CBSL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe
Dinamina
Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe, expressed confidence that the country’s economy will grow by approximately 4-5% this year (2026), maintaining the growth momentum recorded over the past two years.
The Governor made these remarks while announcing the Central Bank’s policy outlook for 2026 and beyond at the Central Bank headquarters in Colombo Fort yesterday (8th) morning.
Weerasinghe further stated that since the Sri Lankan economy has successfully reached a state of stability over the past two years amidst numerous domestic and foreign challenges, there is strong confidence that even the sectors devastated by the recent Cyclone Ditwah can be restored to normalcy quickly.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily News
Prepared to face a disaster situation: a risk of strong winds and heavy rains – Meteorology Department
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Director General of the Department of Meteorology, Athula Karunanayake, states that the depression established in the Bay of Bengal sea area to the southeast of Sri Lanka will further develop into a deep depression and enter the island today (9th).
Karunanayake made the statement during a special media briefing held at the Department of Government Information yesterday (8th) to raise awareness among the public regarding the prevailing adverse weather conditions.
He further stated there that the deep depression is expected to enter the island between 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. today (9th) through the areas between Hambantota and Pottuvil.
Karunanayake also said that the probability of this deep depression converting into a major cyclonic storm is low.
He added that continuous communication is being maintained with the fishing vessels currently in the sea areas where this risky situation may arise.
According to the meteorological forecasts, they have been instructed to evacuate from the areas with the prevailing risky conditions.
The department also stated that they are prepared to face a disaster situation.
Rs. 5 million for each house completely destroyed by the disaster: construction of new homes commences; President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to preside over the main ceremony
Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran
The inaugural phase of providing new houses and compensation for residences completely destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah will commence today (9th) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts as a part of the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ programme.
Accordingly, the construction of new homes begins today (9th) for people who have lost their houses due to the disaster in the areas of Galnewa Handungama, Rajanganaya, and Sirimapura in the Anuradhapura District, as well as Nikaweratiya Withikuliyaya Junction and Ridigama Dodangaslanda in the Kurunegala District.
This programme is being implemented under the government’s initiative to provide relief to the people affected by the disaster conditions caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
It was reported that 11 houses completely destroyed by the disaster have been identified.
It was further reported that the awarding of cheques worth Rs. 2 million for five of these individuals and the laying of foundation stones for the new houses will take place today (9th) at the Galnewa Alubadda Junction.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “The proposal to build a bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka came from Sri Lanka” – Indian High Commissioner | “Provincial council elections should be held soon; this is India’s stance” – High Commissioner Santosh Jha – Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. Earthquake reported from the Ududumbara area – Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. “I accept that a grave mistake was made” – PM Harini Amarasuriya states before the Chief Prelates of the Malwatta and Asgiri Chapters – Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari
4. “No investigations for Darshana Samaraweera, who created the controversial module” | “Does not know the difference between education and sex” – MP Dayasiri Jayasekara accuses the government – Aruna, Thamilan
5. An assurance from the president for opening roads and the land issue of Jaffna – Mawbima, Thamilan
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