DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
|
Virakesari: President must fulfil his promise, Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith emphasises; our struggle will continue until justice is served | Pictorial: Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Vatican representative, Omalpe Sobhitha Thera, and others pay tribute during the 7th anniversary memorial of the Easter Sunday bombings at St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo Thinakaran: Some officials are disrupting the Easter attack investigations. The Archbishop stated that the government is maintaining a positive and progressive approach toward the inquiries | The walk for international peace has begun | Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Election; Campaigning concluded yesterday evening |
Thinakkural: Some government officials are deliberately attempting to stall the Easter Sunday attack investigations. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith questions if those causing obstructions are the same individuals behind the attacks | “Will Anura discover the roots of the Easter Sunday attack?” – Omalpe Sobhitha Thera | Conspiracy to carry out serial bomb attacks in Colombo? Police deny Thamilan: Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith firmly declares: Calling for an international investigation is the final option — the struggle will not stop until justice is achieved! | The United States has seized an Iranian oil tanker near Sri Lanka! | It was intercepted in a dramatic operation while en route to Singapore | Premalal Jayasekara arrested with a firearm |
Sinhala Headlines
|
Lankadeepa: 500 vehicles left in the port for six months [due to] inability to pay the increased tax; some had been brought illegally Divaina: “Suspicious whether political forces were behind [the attack] due to all the obstacles [the investigation] is facing: lies are being spread to cover up the truth about the Easter Sunday attack; investigators must look into what happened to Sarah” — Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith states at the Kochchikade Church | Support this silent and mindful ‘Walk for Peace’ with your silence [and mindfulness] — Ven. Pannakara Thera issues message for Sri Lankans
|
Dinamina: Seven years since the Easter Sunday attack: “All previous governments blurred investigations with tactical ruses; the current government’s investigative approach is positive” – Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith states 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: Newswire
“There was no political conspiracy behind the Easter Sunday attacks” – Sarath Weerasekara
Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan
Former Minister Sarath Weerasekara asserted that the Easter Sunday terror attacks were not a political conspiracy but the work of extremists inspired by ISIS ideology.
Speaking at the SLPP party headquarters in Battaramulla yesterday (21st), he noted that 735 individuals have been arrested and 25 cases are ongoing across nine districts against 79 suspects.
Weerasekara accused the government of “misleading the Catholic community with claims of a grand mastermind to secure votes” and criticised the “targeting of intelligence officer Suresh Sallay”, who was abroad between 2016 and December 2019.
He emphasised that international agencies like the FBI and domestic commissions found no evidence of a political plot, pointing instead to Zahran’s own video claiming the attacks were retaliation for the New Zealand shootings.
Warning that labelling the incident a conspiracy threatens national security, Weerasekara also condemned the arrest of Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan (Pillayan) as a move for short-term political gain.
“Not prepared to abandon the demand for a solution just because fear exists among the Sinhalese” – Tamil National People’s Front states they informed the Vice President of India
Virakesari ACTC leader and MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam stated that while the party is prepared to address the fears of the Sinhala people regarding the country’s partition, they will never abandon the demand for a federal political solution. These remarks were made during a press briefing held yesterday (21st) regarding a meeting held between the visiting Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Tamil political representatives. ACTC General Secretary Selvarajah Kajendren represented the party at the discussion, which took place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday (19th) at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo. Ponnambalam emphasised that the party’s representative conveyed to the Indian Vice President that the demand for a federal system remains firm despite concerns within the majority community. |
“Expedite Easter Sunday attack investigations” – UN Resident Representative callsThinakkural, Virakesari
UN Resident Representative Marc-André Franche has called for the speedy completion of investigations into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks. Speaking at the seventh anniversary commemoration held at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade yesterday (21st), he noted that affected families are still waiting for answers and justice. Highlighting the government’s public pledges to uphold justice, Franche emphasised that current investigations must move beyond remembrance and reach clear conclusions. He further stated that ensuring such violence does not recur is a shared responsibility and that victims can only find peace once the judicial processes are finalised. |
Chemmani mass grave excavation to resume on April 27
Thinakaran, Thinakkural
The third phase of the Chemmani mass grave excavation is scheduled to commence on April 27 after a hiatus of approximately eight months.
While 240 human skeletal remains were identified during the first two phases, only 239 remains have been recovered so far.
Judicial permission for further excavation was granted following a request from the Judicial Medical Officer, who estimated that an additional eight weeks would be required to complete the process.
Although the second phase concluded on September 6 after 45 days of work, the third phase was delayed due to monsoon rains and flooding within the site.
A discussion regarding the upcoming excavation activities is scheduled to be held at the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court today (22nd) with the relevant stakeholders.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
“I am honoured to support the Walk for Peace journey” — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake states on X
Dinamina
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended his full support to the ‘Walk for Peace’, which officially commenced today (21st) in Dambulla.
In a statement, President Dissanayake expressed that he is “honoured to support the Walk for Peace journey across Sri Lanka,” noting its mission to promote mindfulness, loving-kindness, unity, and harmony among all citizens.
As the sacred procession travels across the island carrying the Sacred Relics of the Buddha and a Bodhi tree sapling, the president invited all Sri Lankans to reflect on the “enduring values of peace and compassion” that define the nation’s heritage.
Concluding his message, President Dissanayake shared his hope that this spiritual journey would strengthen national unity and convey a powerful message of peace to the world.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa hands over half of his asset statement to the CIABOCDinamina Following the notification by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to submit declarations of assets and liabilities, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted an affidavit to the CIABOC on April 10, containing only a portion of his asset details. The 14-day grace period provided by the Commission for the submission of these documents ended on April 10, and the former president has requested additional time from the Commission to submit the remaining documents. The Bribery Commission stated that investigations into the matter will commence once the remaining documents are submitted in the future. |
“The country’s economy will be obstructed by various local and global challenges” — The latest economic review report of the CBSL statesDivaina President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, was presented with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s ‘Annual Economic Review 2025’ and ‘Financial Statements and Operations 2025’ reports at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (20th). The documents were formally handed over by the Governor of the Central Bank (CBSL), Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe. The Annual Economic Review 2025, the bank’s flagship publication, highlights that the Sri Lankan economy has further strengthened the progress achieved in previous years due to the maintenance of macroeconomic stability and the implementation of ongoing policy and structural reforms. However, the report also cautions that the nation’s economic trajectory remains subject to various local and global challenges. |
500 million barrels of crude oil worth over USD 50 billion lost due to the war
Dinamina
Reuters reported that data and statistics from the world-renowned Kpler trade intelligence company have confirmed that more than 500 million barrels of crude oil have been lost to the world market since the United States and Israel jointly launched the war against Iran.
The value of this loss is reported to exceed USD 50 billion.
Reuters further reported that Kpler data indicates aviation fuel supplies for global airlines were significantly restricted within the first 50 days of the conflict.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily News
“The government must reveal the masterminds behind the Easter Sunday attack” — Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith states
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Addressing the seventh anniversary commemoration of the Easter Sunday attacks at St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to honour his October 2024 pledge to ensure a transparent investigation.
Cardinal Ranjith stated that the government must reveal the masterminds behind the 2019 massacre, noting that the current administration’s investigative approach appears positive.
The Archbishop of Colombo further alleged that all previous governments—including former presidents, police chiefs, and officials of the Attorney General’s Department—failed to pursue the truth, and used tactical ruses and questionable committees to blur investigations.
He expressed suspicion regarding political involvement due to the obstacles faced, asserting that “lies are being spread to cover up the truth.”
Among specific concerns, he called for further investigation into the fate of the spouse of the Katuwapitiya church bomber, Sarah Jasmine, who is believed to possess critical information.
Former MP Premalal arrested over threatening an individual with a firearm
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Former SLPP MP Premalal Jayasekara has been arrested by the Nuwara Eliya Police.
According to Police Media Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler, Jayasekara was arrested over allegations of threatening an individual with a firearm.
Papers also reported that Jayasekara did not possess a valid licence for the weapon involved in the incident.
The Nuwara Eliya Police are conducting further investigations into the matter.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Support this silent and mindful ‘Walk for Peace’ with your silence [and mindfulness] — Ven. Pannakara Thera issues message for Sri Lankans | Sapling of Bo tree offered to the monks of the ‘Walk for Peace’ –Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. “Will conclude the investigations of the Easter Sunday attack soon” — Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala – Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
3. Bus service for the differently abled commenced [yesterday] – Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
4. The whole world is in an energy crisis due to the war in the Middle East – International Energy Agency states – Lankadeepa, Thinakkural
[/paywall]