4 June 2025 | Vol. 11, #94

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

FrontPage sheds light on the different realities between Sri Lanka's two main language communities. By reading today's FrontPage, you can be better informed about the different priorities in the Sinhala and Tamil press. .

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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

 

Tamil Headlines

Virakesari: “There is no change in the cabinet; there is no intention to change PM Harini [from the post]” – Government [Cabinet spokesperson] | Do not visit [Sri Lanka] before September – Relatives of the disappeared in the North and East call on Volker Türk

Thinakaran: Conflicts in the North and East: Allowances for housing for displaced people increased; decision taken at the cabinet meeting headed by the president | Australia cooperates to prevent illegal activities and promote trade | Speaker informs parliament that copy of petition [of Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill] submitted to court has been received | New COVID strain: Decisions will be made based on previous experiences

Thinakkural: “Tamil people’s lands are being plundered cleverly: ‘Theft departments’ are involved in land grabbing in the Vanni; Tamil people are being evicted from villages, native settlements and farmlands; thousands of acres of land are being handed over by them for Sinhala settlements to change ethnic ratio” – MP T. Ravikaran strongly accuses | Photograph: Hoisting of flag at Kochchikade St. Anthony’s Shrine for annual feast

Thamilan: FR petition by Krishanthi Kumaraswamy murder convicts dismissed; the SC [bench] refused leave to proceed | The name ‘Rajalunu’ is to be changed; Minister Sunil Handunnetti informs parliament | “National schools will not continue to operate under the control of the provinces; there is a deficiency in the work plan” – Prime Minister alleges

 

Sinhala Headlines

Lankadeepa: Student jumps into lake following ragging; four Kuliyapitiya Technical College seniors, including one woman, arrested

Divaina: “Mahaweli land distributed not to farmers, but in hundreds of acres to actors, cricketers and politicians”, says NPP MP Padmasiri Bandara

Ada: Two petitions challenging Wickremesinghe’s issuance of bar permits during presidential election period taken up in court

Mawbima: Indictments to be filed in substandard vaccine case; Keheliya to face three-judge bench next week; CIABOC launches parallel probe| Supreme Court deliberates on ‘bar permit’ petition against Ranil

Dinamina: Distribution of Mahaweli land: Hundreds of acres to actors, cricketers and politicians; “We will start a probe”, says Deputy Minister Susil | Indictments expected next week in substandard vaccine case; bail granted to Keheliya’s son in Rs. 8 million fraud case

Aruna: “19-year-old son of former minister was granted bar licences” –
President’s Counsel tells Supreme Court

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only

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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

 

Photo credits: Tamil Guardian 

“Tamil people’s lands are being plundered cleverly: ‘Theft Departments’ are involved in land grabbing in the Vanni; Tamil people are being evicted from villages, native settlements and farmlands; thousands of acres of land are being handed over by them for Sinhala settlements to change ethnic ratio” – MP T. Ravikaran strongly accuses

Virakesari, Thinakkural

Addressing parliament yesterday (3rd), ITAK MP Thurairasa Ravikaran alleged that top officials in the ‘theft departments’, like the Forest Department and the Wildlife Department, have become judges, adding that they are even threatening Tamil officials, including the district secretary, with a posture of authority, to accept false information. He further added that the above departments, including the Department of Archaeology, are stealing the lands belonging to the public, violating the existing laws.

Do not visit [Sri Lanka] before September – Relatives of the
disappeared in the North and East call on Volker Türk

Virakesari

While there are reports that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka at the end of this month, relatives of the enforced disappeared
persons in the North and East have urged him not to visit the country before September. They expressed suspicion that the government would use the visit of Volker Türk as a tool to thwart the demands for justice and accountability that are currently being made in the context of the
upcoming September session of the UNHRC, which will conclude the current Sri Lanka Accountability action plan.

Skulls dug up in the Chemmani gravesite 

Thinakkural

An order regarding the application filed at the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court seeking to declare the area at the Chemmani Sindupathi Crematorium in Aryalai, Jaffna – where human remains were identified – as a ‘mass grave’ is to be issued on Friday (6th). Body parts including seven human skulls have been identified in the pit.

The name ‘Rajalunu’ is to be changed; Minister Sunil Handunnetti informs parliament

Thamilan

Addressing parliament yesterday (3rd), Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti claimed that the salt which is produced at the Elephant Pass saltern will be called ‘Elephant Pass Salt’. He added that a decision has been taken to change the name due to the request made by [political] representatives from the North and East. Previously it was named ‘Rajalunu’.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

 

Photo credits: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation

Distribution of Mahaweli land: Hundreds of acres to actors, cricketers and politicians 

Dinamina, Mawbima, Divaina

Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation Susil Ranasinghe told parliament yesterday (3rd) that the government has launched an investigation into the misuse of Mahaweli lands allocated for cultivation. The probe follows claims that large plots were privately distributed to politically influential individuals – including actors, cricketers and ministers – under previous regimes without being used for their intended purpose. The government is currently assessing the extent of land distributed, its intended use and possible corrective actions.

Divaina reports that similar concerns were raised by NPP MP Padmasiri Bandara.

Case against Rajitha re-called for August 29

Dinamina, Mawbima, Divaina

Colombo High Court judge Navaratne
Marasinghe yesterday (3rd) ordered the re-call of the financial misconduct case against former Minister of Fisheries Rajitha Senaratne and three
others on August 29. The case involves the 2014 lease of Modara Fisheries Harbour to a private company. The court approved the Bribery Commission’s request to amend the charge sheet before the case resumes.

“Restriction on local students entering KDU medical faculty is temporary” – Seneviratne

Mawbima, Divaina, Ada

Deputy Minister of Education Madura Seneviratne told parliament yesterday (3rd) that the restriction on local students entering the Kotelawala Defence University medical faculty is temporary, pending a government review of the country’s need for medical practitioners.

“The information I shared was wrong” – Jayasekara

Dinamina, Mawbima

SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara expressed regrets to the North Central Provincial Council and officials over his recent social media claims about the council’s vehicle auction. At a press conference in Colombo yesterday (3rd), he apologised for alleging that the council earned only Rs. 2.8 million from the sale of 12 vehicles, including a BMW and three Mitsubishi Prados, and for accusing the government of massive fraud in the auction.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS

 

Photo credits: Daily Mirror

AG to file indictments over substandard vaccine purchase; Keheliya and son released on bail

Dinamina, Mawbima, Lankadeepa, Aruna, Divaina, Ada, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran

The Attorney General (AG) informed the Supreme Court yesterday (3rd) that indictments will be filed next week before a three-judge High Court bench against former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella and others over the purchase of substandard human immunoglobulin vaccines and a cancer treatment drug. On the same day, Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali granted bail to Keheliya Rambukwella and his son Ramitha Rambukwella in another case. They had been remanded over allegations of misusing over Rs. 8 million by appointing close associates as private staff and diverting their salaries and allowances for personal and political use between 2021 and 2023.

“No cabinet reshuffle or PM change” – Jayatissa

Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Ada, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan

Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that there have been no discussions or proposals within the government regarding a cabinet reshuffle or a change of prime minister. Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (3rd), he dismissed related reports as false, and suggested they may have been fabricated to attract media and political attention.

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Common priorities: Additional stories

1. Supreme Court deliberates on ‘bar permit’ petition against Ranil Ada, Dinamina, Mawbima, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thinakkural  

2. President Dissanayake meets Australian deputy PM Mawbima, Divaina, Ada, Thinakkural, Thinakaran

3. “We’ve  increased COVID-19 testing, along with the number of PCR machines. Discussions are ongoing with the World Health Organization  whose experience and guidance are vital” – Nalinda Jaytissa  Lankadeepa, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakaran, Thamilan

4. 1996 sexual assault and murder of Jaffna student: Supreme Court rejects convicts’ plea to commute death sentence – Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan, Aruna

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