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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: National People’s Power mobilised millions of people. Opposition parties held May Day rallies in many parts of the country protesting against the government Thinakaran: “While politicians are working with dedication, trade unions should not make trivial demands” – President Anura Kumara’s speech at |
Thinakkural: “All the parties have scattered. We are the only political movement! The future of the country is in our hands” – President Anura Kumara | May Day rallies. National People’s Power demonstrated great Thamilan: 5,940 acres of Tamil land has been swallowed! The gazette was quietly released targetting the North | “We will not ignore the trust of the Tamil people! National equality is the basis of progress” – President |University student commits suicide due to ragging. The Ministry of Education has appointed a special committee to investigate |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Was the death of the student of the Sabaragamuwa University a sacrifice of ragging? | Divaina: “The trust of the people is also with us on our journey to rebuild the country” – President states at the NPP May rally | The death of the student of the Sabaragamuwa University: “We lost our child; please do not let this happen to anyone else” – The mother of the deceased student states | “The government has failed in every way” – Premadasa | “The NPP has got scared after seeing that the SLPP is being renewed” – Namal Rajapaksa | “We will create a creative Sri Lanka” – Jayaweera | “It was the SLFP government that showed with its actions how rights for labourers are granted” – Nimal Siripala de Silva Ada: Unable to bear ragging, a student of the Sabaragamuwa University dies by suicide |
Mawbima: IGP Deshabandu has received death threats from Kanjipani | Three investigations from the university, ministry and police to investigate the death of the student of the Sabaragamuwa University Dinamina: “Rumours that the government is falling are nonsense; no need of protests that make trivial demands” – President Aruna: Sabaragamuwa University student dies by suicide after writing a letter saying “My head feels like it’s going to explode; I’m stressed” Anidda: “The president cannot stop the income of LG institutions: salaries are paid through the budget, taxes and other income based on council decisions” – Harsha de Silva |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
“Those who are thinking of becoming president should change their minds” – Prime Minister Dr. Harini
Thinakaran, Virakesari
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that she is beginning to wonder what those who are considering becoming president will think when they see the wave of the people in August and December, and that those who are considering becoming president should revise their thinking. She made this statement while addressing the National People’s Power’s May Day meeting held at Galle Face yesterday (1st). She added that Galle Face is proud of this May Day rally and that they have fulfilled the promises they made to the people last time that they would hold the May Day rally with power in 2025.
“If land encroachment is not stopped, Anura will not be able to set foot on Jaffna soil” – Sumanthiran warns
Thinakaran Thinakkural General Secretary of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) M.A. Sumanthiran stated that Anura’s government must immediately stop acquiring land contrary to the promises made to the people, and in particular, the land acquisition gazette must be withdrawn immediately, otherwise they will make it impossible for President Anura to set foot on Jaffna soil. He made this statement while addressing the May Day meeting of the ITAK held at the Weerasingham Hall in Jaffna on Thursday (1st). He further stated that the ITAK is the only party that has been working for the workers in this country since its inception and their party is the main party that has earned the trust and confidence of the Tamil people. |
Representatives of the Chinese and Indian Communist Parties at the ruling party meeting
Virakesari Representatives of the Communist Parties of India and China attended and addressed the International May Day meeting of the ruling National People’s Power which was held at Galle Face yesterday with a large number of people participating. The director of South and Southeast Asian Affairs of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China delivered a special address at the meeting. He assured that China, a longstanding friend of Sri Lanka, will work with Sri Lanka with dedication and harmony. |
5,940 acres of Tamil land has been swallowed! The gazette was quietly released targetting the North
Thamilan
A gazette notification has been quietly issued by the commissioner general of lands to transfer 5,940 acres of land, mostly along the coastal areas of Jaffna District, Kilinochchi District and Mullaitivu District, from Maruthankerni to Mullivaikkal in the Northern Province to state ownership. It has been learned that this notification was published through Gazette Notification No. 5620 dated 2025.03.28. It is stated that not only the homes of many people, public places and temples but also many industrial centres are located in the said area.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
Individual who photographed the stage at the NPP May rally at Galle Face without permission arrested
Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina
The Fort Police stated that an individual who took unauthorised photographs of the stage of the May Day celebration organised by the NPP at the Colombo Galle Face on a mobile phone was arrested for questioning yesterday (1st) morning. The police added that the suspect’s mobile phone and the motorcycle he arrived on were also seized. The suspect was arrested and handed over to the police for investigation after police officers caught sight of him arriving on a motorcycle and taking photographs of the grounds, stage and road with his mobile phone.
Election promotional activities to end at midnight tomorrow – EC
Aruna, Ada The National Election Commission has announced that all election promotional activities and campaigning related to the 2025 Local Government (LG) Elections are scheduled to end at midnight on May 3. Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake stated that, accordingly, the period from midnight on May 3 until election day will be declared an election silence period. |
IGP Deshabandu has received death threats from Kanjipani
Mawbima, Aruna Papers report that the police have informed suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon at his residence in Hokandara yesterday (1st) that he may be a target of death threats allegedly issued by underworld gang member and notorious criminal figure Kanjipani Imran. The officers who visited Tennakoon have stated that intelligence reports indicate that Kanjipani Imran – currently believed to be in hiding overseas – has instructed his associates to assassinate Tennakoon. |
“Wijeweera was against the Indo-Lanka agreement back then” – Uvindu Wijeweera
Dinamina
Leader of the Devana Parapura (Second Generation) Party Uvindu Wijeweera stated that Founder of the JVP the late Rohana Wijeweera was against the Indo-Lanka agreement back then itself. Wijeweera added that on April 5, 1971 the government signed a number of agreements that were detrimental to the country and that it was ironic that these agreements were signed on the day the rebellion went down in history in 1971. He further added that it is a question whether the JVP members who were with Rohana Wijeweera, who opposed the Indo-Lanka Accord back then, are aware of these new agreements. He noted that it is a question for him where the conscience of this government is.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
May Day rallies
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Many political parties including the NPP, SJB, SLPP and the Sarwajana Balaya Party held rallies yesterday (1st) in celebration of May Day. While the NPP managed to mobilise millions of people, the opposition parties held May Day rallies in many parts of the country protesting the government. The NPP May rally was held at Galle Face, while the SJB rally was held in Thalawakele and the SLPP rally was held in Nugegoda. Addressing the masses of people that had gathered for the NPP May rally, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the power of trust is also with the NPP as it attempts to rebuild the country. The president also stated that while politicians are working with dedication, trade unions should not make trivial demands. He added that trade unions must get rid of their old clothes and wear a new set of clothes. The president added further that the cries of other political parties are being heard today and that there is no challenge to the government. He noted that all other political parties have scattered and that the NPP is the only political movement in the country. Dissanayake stressed that the future of the country is in their hands.
Thinakkural highlights the president as saying that the NPP will not ignore the trust of the Tamil people and stressed that national equality is the basis of progress.
Addressing SJB followers at the May Day rally held in Thalawakele, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa stated that the government has failed in every possible way and that the people have not received the prosperous and beautiful life that they were promised. He added that the underworld has taken the peace and security of the nation into their hands. Premadasa stressed that they will continue to speak out for workers’ rights. Premadasa also called on the SJB followers to mobilise to issue a red alert to the government. Premadasa further added that the Local Government (LG) elections are a red alert for the NPP.
MP Namal Rajapaksa speaking at the May Day rally of the SLPP in Nugegoda yesterday (1st) stated that the NPP has gotten scared after seeing that the SLPP is being renewed and that the NPP has also put a massive burden on the backs of the people. Rajapaksa also stressed that the SLPP will take steps to clear charges against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from the current government. Namal Rajapaksa further stressed that the SLPP will seize power in 2029.
Leader of the Sarwajana Balaya Party Dilith Jayaweera stated that they will defeat the government’s hypocrisy. He stressed that their goal is to become a strength to the actual working class. Jayaweera added further that the people’s love will receive a heartfelt response.
Unable to bear ragging, a student of the Sabaragamuwa University commits suicide
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Thinakaran, Thamilan
A student of the Sabaragamuwa University has reportedly died by suicide following an incident of ragging. The police stated that the investigation began following a complaint to the Samanalawewa Police by a fellow student, claiming that the death was linked to ragging. Accordingly, the police are currently making inquiries to determine whether the student had been subjected to ragging and to identify those responsible. The police added that the guilty will be prosecuted as ragging is a criminal offence in Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Higher Education stated it has appointed a special team to investigate the incident and is working with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and university administration to unveil the truth. The ministry also pledged strict action if the investigation confirms that the death was caused by ragging. The student who passed away is a second-year student from the Faculty of Technical Engineering at Sabaragamuwa University.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Although the fuel prices have decreased bus and three-wheeler fares will not be reduced – Bus and three-wheeler associations – Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari, Thinakkural
2. “The draft bill for increasing the salaries of the private sector to be tabled at the next Cabinet [meeting]” – Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe – Dinamina, Thamilan
3. Indian airspace out of limits for Pakistani aircraft – Lankadeepa, Thinakaran
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