[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
|
Virakesari: “Let us work together for true freedom; we must dissolve ethnic and religious differences and purify society” – President, in Independence Day speech | Greetings extended from America, India, Australia, France and Pakistan | Protest in the North and East: Independence Day marked as a ‘Black Day’| 77th Independence Day celebrations marked by simplicity, prioritising public welfare| Lasantha case: Attorney General (AG) instructs release of three key suspects | Second foreigner, the German lady, dies in mysterious Kollupitya hostel incident Thinakaran: “Let us unite to achieve economic, social and cultural freedom” – President’s call to the nation on the 77th National Independence Day | Cardinal Malcolm calls for new constitution to end corruption and restore true freedom | Why was salt imported?: Minister Sunil explains the reason | Arrest of Tamil Nadu fisherfolk in Sri Lanka continues: Stalin writes another letter to Jaishankar | Rice procurement can begin immediately: Government vows action against rice mafia |
Thinakkural: “Let us commemorate the dream of independence by being united” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, at National Independence Day event | “Repeal this constitution immediately” – Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith | The mandate of the Tamil people should be obtained through a general election – Jaffna University student union urges| Jaffna University students lowered the national flag and hoisted a black flag | Independence Day is a ‘Black Day’ for us | “Independence Day is not a ‘Black Day’” – MP Archchuna Thamilan: Massive protest in Kilinochchi demands justice for Tamil genocide, declares Independence Day as ‘Tamil Black Day’ | “Let us commemorate the dream of independence” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, at National Independence Day event | National anthem sung in Tamil on 77th Independence Day | Archbishop urges president to repeal imperialist |
Sinhala Headlines
|
Lankadeepa: “The baton I was given will be returned after building a new country” – President states while Divaina: “This time we celebrate independence while looking forward to the future; this society must be cleaned by washing away all prejudices” – President states while addressing the nation on Independence Day Ada: “This time we celebrate independence while looking forward to the future” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake states while addressing the nation on Independence Day |
Mawbima: Paddy certified price not announced yet; no cost calculation either – Farmers protest against Dinamina: “In the mission to win complete independence, let all of us be fighters on the same land” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at the 77th Independence Day celebrations Aruna: Trump’s decision halts all projects in Sri Lanka; the USAID office in the country also closed down Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
[paywall layout_id=”1906″ service_tags=”TMA,FP” preview=”true”]
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Government accounts department issues urgent circular to provide monthly financial reports from government institutions
Thamilan
The Department of State Accounts has mandated that all ministries, provincial councils, departments and district secretariats submit their 2025 monthly account summaries by the 10th of each month via the new CIGAS web platform.
Director General W.A. Samantha Upananda issued a circular to relevant officials, including the auditor general, outlining submission guidelines. Institutions must send summaries to cigassummary@sad.treasury.gov.lk by the 8th of each month. If rejected, they will be notified via email, and revised summaries must be resubmitted by the 9th.
The arrest of Tamil Nadu fisherfolk in Sri Lanka continues: Stalin writes another letter to Jaishankar
Thinakaran Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has once again urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic action to stop the Sri Lankan Navy’s arrests of Tamil Nadu fisherfolk, and to secure the release of those detained along with their boats. In the past 27 days, 63 fisherfolk have been arrested in five incidents, with five boats seized. In 2024 alone, 530 fisherfolk were detained in 36 incidents, and 71 boats confiscated. Currently, 97 Indian fisherfolk remain in Sri Lankan custody, while 216 boats need to be retrieved. Stalin has stressed the urgent need for a lasting solution to prevent the recurrence of such arrests. |
“Independence Day is not a ‘Black Day’” – MP ArchchunaThinakkural Jaffna District independent MP R. Archchuna has stated that it is unacceptable to refer to Sri Lanka’s Independence Day as a ‘Black Day’. Responding to claims by some groups in the North and East, he shared his views on his YouTube page. Archchuna questioned the Gajendrakumar group’s stance, arguing that Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule has no connection to Tamil nationalism. He also criticised those who, while accepting parliamentary positions and upholding the Sri Lankan Constitution, simultaneously reject the nation’s Independence Day. Instead, he emphasised that this day should be recognised as the moment when both Tamils and Sinhalese pledged allegiance to Sri Lanka. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
285 prisoners released for Independence Day
Divaina, Ada
285 inmates detained at prisons across Sri Lanka were pardoned and released yesterday (4th) in view of the 77th Independence Day. Spokesperson for the Department of Prisons Gamini B. Dissanayake stated that 279 of the inmates that were released were male. Additionally, visitors were granted a special opportunity to visit prison inmates yesterday (4th). They were permitted to take food and sanitation items sufficient for one inmate during the visit.
Container congestion at the Colombo Harbour resolved
Lankadeepa, Divaina Officials confirmed that the container congestion at the Colombo Port has been resolved. A solution to the issue had been implemented following an intensive four-day-and-night operation involving many stakeholders including the president. Papers report that the port congestion was an issue long before the current administration took office, and emphasise that Sri Lanka had suffered significant financial losses due to the delays. |
Acting principal remanded for releasing an examination paper in the North Central Province
Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina An acting principal of a school in the Anuradhapura District who was accused of leaking the Grade 11 final term test papers for Sinhala and Buddhism subjects in schools across the North Central Province, has been remanded until February 7. The order was issued by Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Nalaka Sanjeewa Jayasuriya, after the accused was produced before the court yesterday (4th). The suspect was accused of causing a financial loss exceeding Rs. 11.5 million to the government by deliberately tampering with sealed examination papers and forwarding them to a tuition class teacher in Thambuthgama area via WhatsApp. |
Rs. 565 million from Japan for the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative
Dinamina
The Government of Japan has extended a grant of Rs. 565 million to Sri Lanka to enhance waste management infrastructure facilities under the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the grant was signed on Monday (3rd) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The agreement was signed by Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Akiko Ikuina and Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana. The grant will be utilised to enhance the waste management capacity of local government authorities in the Western, Northern and Eastern Provinces by providing funds for 28 garbage compactors. The allocation of vehicles will be as follows: Western Province – 14 trucks, Eastern Province – 8 trucks and Northern Province – 6 trucks.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Lanka Leader.lk
77th Independence Day celebrations marked by simplicity, prioritising public welfare | “In the mission to win complete independence, let all of us be fighters on the same land” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at the 77th Independence Day celebrations
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Papers report that the 77th Independence Day of Sri Lanka was celebrated in a charming yet proud manner yesterday (4th). President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while addressing the nation at the celebrations, stated that this year the country commemorates a special Independence Day as the country celebrates the Independence Day while looking forward to the future. He added that today Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day at a juncture when people from the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Central regions of our country collectively dream of a future defined by a prosperous Sri Lankan state, a modern Sri Lankan nation. He added further that as the democratically elected president of this state, he stands before the national flag, not only as your leader but as a brother who has borne the historical burden emblematic of our future freedom. He continued that as citizens of this nation, Sri Lankans must not permit the respect or affection inherently owed to every human being to be curtailed by disability, age, illness or any other such limitation. He emphasised that Sri Lanka must not only overcome the ethnic, religious and caste divisions that have long fragmented and subjugated us as subjects, but that we must also eradicate the entrenched prejudices that exist at various levels of society, and that society must be purified by eradicating these prejudices and reaffirm human dignity, love and compassion as the hallmarks of the modern era. He stated further that Sri Lankans must recognise that in the citizens’ quest to attain comprehensive economic, social and cultural freedom, each of the citizens is a warrior on the same battlefield, and that collectively we must persist in our struggle for freedom on behalf of this motherland.
Thinakaran highlights that the United States extended its wishes to Sri Lanka on Independence Day, with Foreign Secretary Marco issuing a statement.
Virakesari notes that greetings poured in from America, India, Australia, France and Pakistan.
Thinakaran and Thamilan emphasise that the national anthem was sung in Tamil on the 77th Independence Day, a move widely praised by many.
“Bring about the new constitution immediately” – Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith
Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has called on the government and the president to immediately repeal the current constitution and introduce a new one to dismantle the existing corrupt system and establish true freedom in the country. He stressed that the unchecked power granted under the constitution has been exploited by leaders, paving the way for a dictatorial system. The Cardinal stated further that the misuse of power turned what could have been peacefully resolved national conflicts into war, leading to a terrifying state of affairs.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Massive protest in Kilinochchi, demanding justice for Tamil genocide; declares Independence Day as the ‘Tamil Black Day’ | Students of the Jaffna University lower the national flag while hoisting a black flag – Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. Private sector receives approval to import salt – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thinakaran
3. “Rice procurement can begin immediately: Government vows action against the rice mafia” – Sunil Handuneththi | “Certified price for paddy to be announced today” – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
[/paywall]
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]