DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk urges government to establish a special judicial mechanism to handle cases | Pictorial: Red moon observed in Sri Lanka Thinakaran: Investigation into human rights violations of the final conflict: Sri Lanka announces accountability will be through a domestic mechanism; rejects external interference or methods, states Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath in Geneva | No-confidence motion against Minister Aruna Jayasekara; Speaker’s decision today | New vaccine that cures cancer |
Thinakkural: “The domestic mechanism (to address) human rights violations in Sri Lanka must be strengthened” – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Türk reiterates | “We will not accept any external mechanism” – Minister Vijitha Herath categorically declares in Geneva | Is Katchatheevu becoming a smuggling hub? Troops intensify surveillance Thamilan: “National People’s Power Government categorically rejects international inquiry”; Minister Vijitha Herath announces stance in Geneva! | Independent Council for Justice! UN Human Rights Council announces, emphasises accountability | Politicians linked to the underworld; Minister Nalinda says details will be revealed soon |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: 20 names of ministers and MPs that are linked to the underworld to be revealed in parliament? Much information has been revealed | “Sri Lanka rejects any external mechanisms into the investigation of human rights” – Vijitha Herath states at the UNHRC session Divaina: Another secret revealed at Peliyagoda: 150 kg of chemicals found; chemicals had been laid out as rocks in the garden; two of Padme’s ‘ice’ factories found in Nuwara Eliya and Kandana: individual who rented the house for the factory at Rs. 150,000 per month, missing Mawbima: ‘Harak Kata’ to be detained until the hearing on orders from the secretary of defense – AG informs court | “The chemical haul that was found in Kandana came from Middeniya” – Accomplice of ‘Panadura Nilanga’ reveals
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Dinamina: “[Sri Lanka] rejects any external mechanism related to investigations into human rights; the issue faced by the country must be solved within a local mechanism” – Herath at UNHRC session | A list revealed by Madush containing 80 names of politicians who are said to be linked to the underworld and drug dealing had been swept under the carpet during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure: no information as to what happened to Madush’s properties; the murderers have not yet been arrested Aruna: “Do not give money to garbage collectors that work in municipal and pradeshiya sabha councils” – Minister of Local Government states that garbage collection is a public service Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: ONLANKA
UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk urges government to establish a special judicial mechanism to handle cases
Thinakkural, Thamilan, Virakesari
Speaking at the 60th session of the UNHRC yesterday (8th), UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that Sri Lanka has a “historic opportunity to heal from past violations and the culture of impunity.”
He urged the government to establish a special judicial mechanism, with the participation of an independent special prosecutor, to handle cases of human rights violations and crimes against international humanitarian law.
Türk also called for the immediate suspension of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the reform of other repressive laws such as the Online Safety Act, security sector reform, and an end to the militarisation of the North and East, privately owned lands must be released and priority must be given to providing a solution for the problems of the hill-country (Malaiyaha) Tamil people.
He noted that his office’s accountability project has collected 105,000 pieces of evidence on past violations and called on member states to use them to ensure accountability through universal jurisdiction.
“Sri Lanka lagging on accountability” – European Union points out | “The scars related to past violations have not yet healed” – UK-led Core Group points out
Virakesari During the 60th session of the UNHRC yesterday (8th), the European Union (EU) and the UK-led Core Group on Sri Lanka voiced concerns over the continued lack of accountability for past violations. The EU representative stated that accountability is the “centerpiece of the rule of law,” expressing dissatisfaction with setbacks in addressing enforced disappearances and urging that any law replacing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) meets international standards. Speaking for the Core Group, the UK representative highlighted that victims of past abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence, continue to suffer and called for an end to the long-standing culture of impunity. Both delegations supported the establishment of an independent prosecutor’s office, with the UK also insisting that mass grave excavations adhere to international standards. |
“Provincial council elections will be held after the delimitation process; no one can lay claim to Katchatheevu” – says Tilvin SilvaThinakaran, VirakesariDuring a visit to Jaffna on Sunday (7th), JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva announced that the provincial council elections will be held next year. He stated that the election would proceed after a commission is appointed to complete the necessary delimitation of boundaries, which had previously stalled. On the issue of Katchatheevu, Silva asserted that the island belongs to Sri Lanka, and no one can claim it, adding that the matter is typically raised in Tamil Nadu for election purposes. He also affirmed that international intervention regarding incidents during the war would not be permitted and that justice would be delivered through a domestic investigation. |
“Implement meaningful devolution of power; provincial council elections must be held immediately” – India urges Sri Lanka | “The UNHRC must act impartially” – Pakistan, Laos, and Eritrea state in support of Sri Lanka
Virakesari
Speaking at the UNHRC session yesterday (8th), India urged Sri Lanka to fully implement its constitution, immediately hold provincial council elections, and ensure meaningful devolution of power.
The Indian representative stated that an inclusive power-sharing arrangement and a fair reconciliation process are essential for fulfilling the Tamil people’s aspirations for equality, justice, and dignity within a united Sri Lanka.
In contrast, representatives from countries including Pakistan, Laos, and Eritrea expressed their support for Sri Lanka’s domestic processes and urged the UNHRC to act impartially.
They criticised the OHCHR’s accountability project for being conducted without the country’s consent and suggested its funds could be better used elsewhere, given the UN’s financial constraints.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
‘Ice’ and a haul of material to produce ‘Ice’ found in a luxury home in Kandana
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina
‘Ice’ and a haul of chemical material used to produce ‘Ice’ were found in a luxury house in Kandana.
A series of investigations have uncovered that the white crystals and powdery substance found from the said house in Kandana and a nearby paddy field are suspected to be part of a stock used in the production of the drug ‘ice’.
It has been revealed that in January this year, two containers containing the substance, which had been cleared from the Colombo Port, were transported from Colombo to Middeniya.
These two containers held a white crystalline and powdery substance packed inside large bags.
It has also been uncovered that six of those bags were loaded onto a truck and transported to another location during the same period.
Individual who videotaped the vehicles of the Chief Justice to be remanded till September 10
Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna TColombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama, yesterday (8th), ordered that the individual alleged to have recorded video footage of the motorcade of the Chief Justice be further remanded until September 10. The Magistrate also granted permission for the police request to send the mobile phone, said to have been used for the recording, to the Government Analyst and directed the Government Analyst to submit a related report to the court. |
Police take steps to investigate suspicious container at the harbour
Dinamina TPolice sources state that a container suspected to contain either the drug ‘ice’ or chemicals used in the production of ‘ice’, and believed to be connected to the two containers found in Middeniya, is scheduled to be examined in the coming days. It has been revealed by police sources that this container has not yet been cleared from the Colombo Port and that, as of last Thursday, all necessary security measures regarding the container have been taken. |
Hearing of evidence related to case against Johnston Fernando to be held on September 21
Dinamina
The Colombo High Court, yesterday (8th), ordered that the evidence examination in the case filed against former Minister of Trade Johnston Fernando and two others, who are accused of causing losses to the government by deploying Sathosa employees in political and personal activities outside their official duties, be held on December 12.
The High Court Judge also instructed witnesses number 12, 33, 37, and 42 in the case to appear in court on December 12.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: ONLANKA
“[Sri Lanka] rejects any external mechanism related to investigations into human rights (violations); the issue faced by the country must be solved within a domestic mechanism” – Herath at UNHRC session
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated at the session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that Sri Lanka, as a sovereign nation, remains committed to accountability processes solely through domestic mechanisms.
He further emphasised that the country does not agree to any external mechanisms in relation to the investigation into human rights (violations), and if such mechanisms are implemented, it would lead to divisions among the nation’s communities and have a serious impact on the national reconciliation process being pursued by the government.
The minister made these remarks while addressing the 60th session of the UNHRC, which commenced yesterday (8th) in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The UNP will continue to work with the parties of the opposition, including the SJB” – Wajira Abeywardana
Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Chair of the UNP Wajira Abeywardana stated that the UNP will continue to work with the parties of the opposition, including the SJB.
The UNP has planned to act through a committee or a similar mechanism to work with the SJB and other opposition parties.
Throughout the recent past, the UNP has held discussions with the SJB and other political parties in the opposition regarding how to work together on common issues.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Order from the secretary of defense to detain ‘Harak Kata’ until the hearing concludes – AG informs the court – Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. “Apprehend politicians who are linked to drugs”: public protest in Middeniya – Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakkural
3. Nimal Lanza granted bail by the High Court – Divaina, Dinamina, Thinakaran
4. CEB to ‘work to rule’ till September 15: to launch strike if a solution isn’t given – Divaina, Aruna, Thamilan
5. “How were raw materials for the production of ‘ice’ released from the port?” – Sajith Premadasa – Mawbima, Thinakkural
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