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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: National People’s Power wins in the South, major setback in the North and East; challenge in forming administrations; Tamil national parties dominate in Tamil areas Thinakaran: Local Government Election 2025 to elect 8,287 members; more than 50% voter turnout island-wide; counting of votes began yesterday evening; all results will be announced by this afternoon | President engaged in discussions with Vietnam’s business community on tourism and digital sectors | Photograph: V. Anandasangaree casting his vote at the age of 93 |
Thinakkural: Setback for NPP; difficulty in forming administrations on its own; independent group tops in Haputale; ITAK wins in Manthai East | Kilinochchi District falls under the control of the ITAK | Massive drop in voting Thamilan: The LG election concludes peacefully! Voter turnout between 52% and 70%; no expected majority for the ruling party | Ragging of a university student: 10 suspects arrested; 11 students suspended from classes | “Successful election results will be announced” – President Anura hopes |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: LG elections: NPP leads; 60% voter turnout reported; highest turnout reported from Mannar at 70%; lowest turnout reported from Colombo at 52% Divaina: The very first election result reported from Tangalle: NPP leading | “A successful election. I believe that the results will also be successful” – President Dissanayake Ada: The LG election was held peacefully: voter turnout limited to 60%; the first official election result was released at 6.50pm yesterday |
Mawbima: A reduction in the enthusiasm for voting across the island; a peaceful election – EC; voter turnout recorded at less than 60%; the first election result reported from Tangalle Dinamina: A peaceful election: 60% voter turnout reported; no election violence reported – District election offices | NPP leading based on the results announced so far Aruna: This paper was not available at the time of publishing FrontPage Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: YouTube
Death of Kotahena student: Parents urge HRC to punish those responsible for daughter’s death |
What action will the Ministry of Education take regarding the mathematics teacher? – Ministry of
Women and Child Affairs requests explanation
Thinakaran, Thamilan, Virakesari
Thinakaran: The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has launched an investigation into the death of a female student who took her own life in the Kotahena area of Colombo, based on information provided by her parents. The
student’s mother has urged that those who put her daughter under severe stress and pushed her to the point of suicide should be punished.
Thamilan, Virakesari: The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has requested the Ministry of Education to submit a written explanation of the next step to be taken regarding the maths teacher who allegedly sexually abused the student.
Candidates must submit expenditure reports within 21 days
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“I will respect the [action taken by] the Election Commission” – PM
Virakesari Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has clarified that she had clearly stated at the time that their campaign activities had concluded and should come to an end. The PM stated that she will respect any action taken by the Election Commission if her remarks in Moratuwa are deemed a violation of the election law. Amarasuriya noted that her comments were not intended to breach any election regulations. |
Sumanthiran thanks the voters
Thinakkural
General Secretary of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) M.A. Sumanthiran has expressed his gratitude to the voters in the North and East for voting in favour of the ITAK. He added that they are proud of receiving the support of the people after a setback in the last general election in the North, especially in Jaffna.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newsfirst.lk
“We thank the people who joined together for a free and democratic election” – Premadasa | “We are not afraid of anyone as long as we are with the people” – Namal Rajapaksa | “A decisive election for the people” – Dilith Jayaweera
Divaina, Ada, Dinamina
Leader of the Opposition and the SJB Sajith Premadasa stated that they thank the public for coming together to hold a free and democratic election. Premadasa added that all politicians must respect the decision that the public will make through the election. Premadasa made the statement while speaking to the media after casting his vote in Rajagiriya yesterday (6th). National Organiser of the SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa stated that he is not afraid of any challenge as long as the people are with him. Rajapaksa added that even the president and premier have begun to threaten them but that the SLPP is not afraid because the public is with them. He stressed that the current government has made several promises and that they are waiting for those promises to be fulfilled. Leader of the Sarvajana Balaya Party Dilith Jayaweera stated that the results of this year’s Local Government (LG) elections could bring a decisive result to the people. He added that his party considers this LG election a very valuable election for the people. He added further that his party also used this year’s LG elections to inform the public about the national challenges facing the people of this country.
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga withdraws case filed against Maithripala Sirisena
Dinamina Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga withdrew the case filed against former President Maithripala Sirisena at the Colombo District Court yesterday (6th). The Colombo District Court issued an interim injunction on April 24, 2025 preventing Maithripala Sirisena from holding the presidency of the SLFP, and the respondent, dissatisfied with this, filed a petition with the Court of Appeal. When the petition was taken up for hearing recently, a settlement was reached after SLFP members Nimal Siripala de Silva and Duminda Dissanayake stated that they had no objection to the appointment of the chair and general secretary. As a result of the settlement, the case filed by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga against Maithripala Sirisena had to be withdrawn. |
236 who violated election laws arrested
Ada The police reports that 236 individuals who violated election laws have been arrested. The police added that 55 among the arrested are candidates who are competing in the 2025 Local Government Election while the rest are said to be supporters of candidates. |
An investigation into the LTTE gold found by the forces during the war
Dinamina
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali on Monday (5th) that it has launched an investigation into the 10,000 gold items recovered during the northern humanitarian operation. The chief magistrate, who considered the submissions, ordered that the gold items, which were discovered at the camps, buildings and illegal banks of the illegal terrorist organisation LTTE and are currently in the custody of the military intelligence, be referred to the authorities for examination and a report be submitted.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
LG elections: NPP leads; 60% voter turnout reported; highest turnout reported from Mannar at 70%; lowest turnout reported from Colombo at 52% | A reduction in the enthusiasm for voting across the island
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The 2025 Local Government (LG) Election was held peacefully yesterday (6th) across the island with a 60% voter turnout. While the voter turnout percentage varies slightly from paper to paper, a majority of the papers highlight that the voter turnout was recorded at 60%. The highest voter turnout was reported from Mannar at 70%, while the lowest was reported from Colombo at 52%.
The Tamil press and Mawbima highlight that a significant reduction in the enthusiasm of the public for voting was noted at the LG election this time.
The 2025 Local Government Election will determine the appointment of members for 339 LG bodies.
Many papers highlight in their headlines that the NPP is leading in the LG election currently, based on the election results that have been released so far. The very first official result was reported from Tangalle by yesterday (6th) evening.
Virakesari and Thinakkural report that as per the counting of votes so far, the ruling NPP has won in many LG bodies in the South and had a setback in the North and East, while the Tamil nationalist parties have secured the councils. They add that though the NPP has won in many councils, it cannot form an administration on its own as it did not secure a majority.
Thamilan reports that the NPP has not secured the expected victory.
“A successful election. I believe that the results will also be successful” – President Dissanayake | “The provincial council election will also be held soon” – Premier Amarasuriya | “Ask the voters about the election” – Former President Wickremesinghe
Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the 2025 Local Government Election was held successfully and that he is confident that the election results will also be successful. Dissanayake made the statement while talking to the media after casting his vote yesterday (6th). President Dissanayek added that the NPP had carried out a successful election campaign and that he strongly believes that they will get successful results. The president further added that he hopes that the people will follow the new political culture which was created in the country after the recent general and presidential elections. Accordingly, he urged the public to celebrate the election victory peacefully and that it is very important to uphold democracy not only during the election campaign but post-election as well. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that the provincial council elections will also be held as soon as possible. She made the statement when she arrived at the Mirihana Samurdhi Centre to cast her vote yesterday (6th). Amarasuriya stressed the importance of holding elections as soon as possible as they have been delayed for many years. Dinamina quotes former President Ranil Wickremesinghe saying that voters have been motivated to vote for the candidates of their choice. He added that people in some areas had shown an interest to vote. He further added that for 17 million voters there are 75,000 candidates, and that means that there is one candidate for every 200 people. Thinakkural reports Wickremesinghe as saying that the people’s interest is low and that the people have to be asked why they are not interested in voting.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Britain limits granting visas to Sri Lanka and several other countries – Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. Sabaragamuwa ragging: 11 students who were arrested by the CID suspended – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thamilan
3. President of the World Bank Ajay Banga to arrive in Sri Lanka today – Mawbima, Thinakaran, Thamilan
4. The election was peaceful – PAFFREL – Lankadeepa, Thinakaran
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