DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
|
Virakesari: “Decision on fuel supply soon; Sri Lanka’s request is under consideration in Moscow” – says Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko | Pictorial: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had visited Assam state, is seen in the picture visiting a tea garden and taking a selfie with the workers Thinakaran: “The war against Iran will end in a few weeks; no need to end the war through negotiations” – Trump | Ministry of Education issues strict order to follow regulations over hot weather conditions |
Thinakkural: “In addition to the previous electricity tariff hike, power cuts are coming! The New Year period will not be good for the people of the country” – says Champika Ranawaka | The country is set to be plunged into darkness at night! Strong opposition to the government’s action | “Insecurity is increasing day by day; the government is abandoning the people from danger” — Sajith Thamilan: “America will leave Iran soon!” – Trump | Meeting between President Anura and TPA will be held today | President provides protection to coal thief; Rajitha lashes out | 2025 Advanced Level exam results released; 176,527 students qualify for university admission |
Sinhala Headlines
|
Lankadeepa: We will attack targets: Iran warns 18 American companies: Apple and Google among said companies; named as terrorist organisations Divaina: Meegamuwe Disa’s [Negombo Disa’s] boat that was captured in the south-western seas, transported to Dikowita
|
Dinamina: Female students dominate overall A/L results: 62% eligible for university entrance; 7,477 obtain A grades for all subjects; results of 111 suspended; 30,898 fail all subjects; recorrections from April 6 | Narcotics worth Rs. 6.2 billion brought by sea seized: 323 kg packed in 19 sacks; this is the ninth vessel seized by the Navy this year Aruna: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
[paywall layout_id=”1906″ service_tags=”TMA,FP” preview=”true]
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
“Decision on fuel supply soon; Sri Lanka’s request is under consideration in Moscow” – says Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko
Thinakaran, Virakesari
Visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko expressed optimism that Russia and Sri Lanka could reach a common agreement regarding fuel supplies.
Speaking at an event organised by the Pathfinder Foundation in Colombo, Rudenko noted that proposals for fuel exchange discussed during a recent visit by Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin are currently under review in Moscow.
He emphasised that Russia is interested in a long-term agreement rather than a short-term arrangement based on temporary US sanctions waivers.
Rudenko stated that despite the threat of secondary sanctions from Western nations, Russia remains ready to provide energy resources to any country wishing to benefit.
Meeting between President Anura and TPA will be held today
Thamilan, Virakesari A delegation from the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) is scheduled to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (2nd). The meeting was arranged following a recent telephone conversation between the president and TPA Leader Mano Ganesan. TPA Leader Ganesan, Deputy Leaders Palani Thigambaram MP and V. Radhakrishnan MP, and members of the party’s political committee will participate in the discussion. Ganesan stated that the meeting will focus on urgent issues facing the people of the Hill Country and the current political situation in the country. |
“Indian trawlers coming as far as the shore in the North; Navy failing to control them” – Ravikaran MPThinakkural
Vanni District ITAK MP T. Ravikaran accused the Navy of failing to control the increasing encroachments by Indian trawlers in the Northern waters, including Mullaitivu. During a special meeting on illegal fishing chaired by the Minister of Fisheries held at the Mullaitivu District Secretariat on Tuesday (31st), the MP questioned whether the Navy’s surveillance equipment was dysfunctional. He noted that Indian vessels are engaging in illegal fishing close to the shoreline without any hindrance. In response, a Navy officer stated that they are monitoring the situation and taking necessary actions against such maritime incursions. |
“Turning off street lights will increase crime!” – Motorcyclists’ Association protests
Thinakkural, Thamilan The Ceylon Motorcyclists’ Association has expressed its strong opposition to the government’s decision to switch off street lights across the country from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, the association pointed out that this decision poses a major threat to public and road safety. Association President Chirantha Amarasinghe stated that the lack of adequate lighting could lead to serious accidents for motorists, particularly motorcyclists, and increase the risk of harassment against women and other crimes. He further criticised senior police officers for their silence on the matter, suggesting the move might be used to increase revenue through fines for errors caused by poor visibility. The association recommended that the government instead utilise solar energy for road signals, signboards, and street lighting. |
“Some are attempting to divert the Easter attack investigations, which are moving in the right direction” – Nalinda [Jayatissa]Thinakaran Cabinet Spokesperson MP Nalinda Jayatissa stated that it is unsurprising that certain individuals and groups are dissatisfied as the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks are proceeding in the right direction. Speaking at a media briefing to announce cabinet decisions, the minister noted that some parties are expressing their discontent by issuing various statements and publishing books. Minister Jayatissa asserted that investigations are being conducted systematically and urged anyone with information not yet discovered by the CID to provide it to the relevant authorities. These remarks follow the release of a book titled ‘Finding the Mastermind of the Easter Sunday Attacks’ by former MP Udaya Gammanpila. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
“The Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, the G.C.E. Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations will take place on the usual dates” – Examinations Commissioner General
Dinamina
Commissioner General of Examinations, A.K.S. Indika Kumari Liyanage, stated that the upcoming Grade 5 Scholarship, Advanced Level, and Ordinary Level examinations for 2026 will be conducted on the scheduled dates.
She added that the 2026 Advanced Level examination is scheduled to be held from August 10 to September 5.
Applications for the exam are being accepted until April 24.
The Commissioner General requested students intending to sit for the exam for a second time to apply without waiting for the recorrection results.
An export income of USD 1,711 million for FebruaryDinamina The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) states that an export income of USD 1,711 million was earned in February of this year. The CBSL also says that the import expenditure for February of this year was USD 1,834 million. Commenting on the performance of the external sector in February 2026, the Central Bank further declares that foreign reserves have increased along with a current account surplus in international trade during the month of February. |
Chinese flight that was to land at BIA diverted to the Mattala AirportDivaina A China Eastern Airlines flight scheduled to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake was diverted to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) on Tuesday (31st) on account of bad weather. BIA officials confirmed that several other flights had also experienced delays due to the bad weather. The paper reported further that six other flights that were unable to land at BIA had been circling the airspace. |
Six fisherfolk who were under arrest in Bangladesh for eight months, released
Dinamina
Six Sri Lankan fisherfolk who were in Bangladeshi custody for eight months have been released.
The Sri Lankan fisherfolk, who were detained for illegally entering Bangladeshi waters and subsequently released, are scheduled to arrive in the country today (2nd).
This group of fisherfolk, who went to sea on July 16, 2025, on a multi-day fishing vessel named ‘Sudu Duwa 4’ (IMULA 0138 PTM), was arrested by the Bangladesh Navy on charges of violating the Bangladeshi maritime boundary.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
Female students dominate overall A/L results: 62% eligible for university entrance; 7,477 obtain A grades for all subjects; results of 111 suspended; 30,898 fail all subjects; recorrections from April 6
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
A total of 176,527 students who sat for the 2025 General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.) Advanced Level (A/L) examination have qualified to apply for university entrance.
Commissioner General of Examinations, A.K.S. Indika Kumari Liyanage, stated that this is a percentage of 62.64% of the total students who sat for the exam.
Liyanage added that the majority of those who qualified for university entrance among the students who sat for the 2025 G.C.E. A/L examination are female children.
However, the Commissioner General also stated that only in the Biology stream, a higher percentage of male children have gained university entrance.
The number of students who obtained A passes for all subjects is 7,477, which is a percentage of 3.38%.
She added that 823 private applicants have also obtained A passes for all subjects.
The Commissioner General of Examinations stated that 30,898 applicants have failed all three subjects. That is a percentage of 10.96%.
Among that group are 19,301 school applicants and 11,597 private applicants.
“[They are] talking about a drought to hide the power cuts that will happen due to substandard coal” | “The government will not be purchasing fuel from Russia” – Patali Champika Ranawaka
Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Leader of the Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP), Patali Champika Ranawaka, stated yesterday (1st) that Sri Lanka would be unable to secure oil from Russia before the reimposition of US sanctions.
Speaking at a joint opposition media briefing in Colombo, the former minister noted that importing Russian crude would not be possible before the 12 April deadline.
Patali Champika Ranawaka also alleged that four of the six promised crude ships would not arrive despite government assurances.
Ranawaka further claimed the government is deceiving the public by blaming inevitable power cuts on the ongoing drought, asserting instead that low-quality coal caused the crisis.
Additionally, he alleged that the recently announced electricity tariff hike was a result of coal fraud.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Narcotics worth Rs. 6.2 billion brought by sea seized: 323 kg packed in 19 sacks; this is the ninth vessel seized by the Navy this year – Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. “Whether the Iranian government enters into an agreement or not, the war will end in another two or three weeks” – A statement from Donald Trump – Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. “Gammanpila’s book that was to be released on April 1 is a whitewashing of the Rajapaksas: disappointed about Sajith, Thalatha and Sagala” – Navin Dissanayake – Dinamina, Virakesari
4. “Bring justice for bodies of deceased Muslims being cremated during the Covid period” – Kalilur Rahman of the United Peace Alliance (UPA) – Divaina, Virakesari
5. We will attack targets: Iran warns 18 American companies: Apple and Google among said companies; named as terrorist organisations – Lankadeepa, Thinakaran
[/paywall]