29 April 2026 | Vol. 12, #74

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: “USD 600,000 disappeared; CID investigation into the matter regarding funds paid to an American company” – Cabinet Spokesperson informs | Maithripala Sirisena provides a statement | The Sri Lanka Cricket executive committee has decided to resign | Pictorial: The Walk for Peace started by Ven. Pannakara Thera in Dambulla concluded yesterday at Independence Square in Colombo. During the event, the President presented a sacred sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to the monk

Thinakaran: “We will build Sri Lanka as a peaceful and humanitarian nation” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake invited everyone during the final day of the ‘Walk for Peace’ | The report of the special committee regarding voting rights for Sri Lankans living abroad has been handed over to the minister | Revolutionary singer Thenisai Chellappa has passed away

Thinakkural: “The USD 600,000 paid by the Postal Department to an American company has disappeared, and investigations have begun immediately” – says Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda | The Treasury Secretary’s residence was surrounded, and protesters were pelted with cow dung | “The JVP carried out the attack” – The New People’s Front alleges

 Thamilan: “Harshana Suriyapperuma cannot be prevented from appearing before the COPE committee and will appear tomorrow” – Harsha de Silva | The arrest of Shani and Ravi: the hearing of the petition concluded yesterday, and the verdict has been reserved | The investigation into the Trincomalee Vihara has been concluded | “Investigations are underway regarding the disappearance of USD 600,000 within the Sri Lanka Postal Service” – Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa announces

Lankadeepa: Rs. 200 million belonging to the Department of Posts and paid to the US Postal Service (USPS) has also disappeared – Minister Nalinda reveals | The CID had warned the Central Bank well in advance of the risk of a financial crime

Divaina: The death of the Welikada inmate: “Aiya (older brother) has been beaten up and killed. What is this country if murders occur even inside prisons?” – His sister says; “Even my son has been handcuffed, hanged and beaten” – Another mother says; did the inmates collide with an official or did they try to escape? A jailer and two prison guards remanded until May 6

Dinamina: The Central Bank cybercrime: The CID requests the bank account details of five officials; direct transactions have been conducted via email; Travel ban imposed by the Fort magistrate

Aruna: The Sri Lanka Cricket executive committee, including the president, resigns; Eran Wickramaratne appointed as the president of the interim committee

Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

Minister Chandrasekar holds discussions with leading companies in Denmark

Thinakaran

Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar held discussions with leading Danish organisations during an official visit to Denmark.

During a meeting with the shipping company Maersk, focus was placed on creating international employment and training opportunities for Sri Lankan youth in the maritime sector.

The minister also met with the organisation Danish Industry to explore technical cooperation in digital technology, sustainable maritime tourism, renewable energy, and modern fish processing.

Additionally, discussions with Impact Fund Denmark focused on securing low-interest investment opportunities for Sri Lanka in green energy and the fisheries sector.

These engagements aim to modernise the fisheries industry, attract foreign investment, and establish a foundation for new job creation.

The investigation into the Trincomalee Vihara has been concluded

Virakesari, Thamilan

The Court of Appeal yesterday concluded the hearing of a writ petition filed by the trustee of the controversial Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Vihara in Trincomalee, Ven. Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera.

The petition sought an injunction to prevent the demolition of a section of the temple premises.

During the hearing before Justices Dhammika Ganepola and Adithya Patabendige, the state counsel informed the court that no further action would be taken against the petitioner as the unauthorised structures had been removed in accordance with the permit issued by the Coast Conservation Department.

President’s Counsel Susantha Balapatabendi, appearing for the petitioner, expressed satisfaction with the position maintained by the respondents.

Consequently, the court decided to terminate the proceedings regarding the application.

PET scanners in government hospitals are out of order

Thamilan

Health professionals expressed dissatisfaction over the suspension of PET scan services at the Colombo National Hospital and Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, which have been inactive for a month.

Ravi Kumudesh, President of the Health Professionals Association, stated in a media release yesterday (28th) that the service disruption since March 27 is a structural failure of the healthcare system rather than a mere technical issue.

The suspension is due to a shortage of Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), a radioactive tracer, caused by administrative delays at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) in renewing supplier registrations.

Kumudesh highlighted that while a PET scan costs approximately Rs. 10,000 in India, Sri Lankan patients must pay between Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 300,000 in the private sector due to policy failures.

He urged the government to establish an emergency regulatory pathway for FDG and invest in domestic cyclotron-based radiopharmaceutical production to ensure affordable cancer diagnostics.

The Thaiyiddy land survey was abandoned again yesterday, and officials refused to provide a written assurance

Thamilan

A second attempt to survey private lands situated at the site of the contested vihara in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna, was abandoned yesterday (28th) following a prolonged standoff between officials and landowners.

17 landowners, who possess valid deeds for the property, were summoned to the site to facilitate the mapping of their lands.

Tensions initially arose when police set up a checkpoint near the vihara to verify the identities and deeds of the owners, leading to an argument that was eventually resolved by the Grama Niladhari.

The survey process stalled when the owners demanded a written guarantee from officials stating that the measurements were being conducted specifically for the purpose of releasing the lands.

Although seven officials—including the Jaffna District Secretary and the Divisional Secretary—jointly signed a letter to this effect after several rounds of revisions, the landowners refused to proceed because the document was not provided on official departmental letterhead.

Officials explained that they represented different departments and could not sign under a single departmental header, leading the owners to withdraw their consent for the survey.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

The Government Analyst reports “whine”: Prisons are four times over capacity

Divaina

The total inmate population in Sri Lanka has surged to 40,444 as of Monday (27th), nearly four times the official capacity of 10,500.

Prison records indicate that a significant majority of these individuals are held on drug-related charges, with many remaining in custody solely due to extensive delays in obtaining Government Analyst reports.

These delays, which can exceed 10 to 12 months for cases involving over 10 g of substances, are attributed to a severe shortage of forensic officers.

Although Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara previously announced plans to temporarily re-employ 50 retired officers to address the backlog, reports suggest this initiative has yet to be implemented.

Current officers are reportedly overextended by field investigations and frequent court appearances, further hindering the timely processing of reports.

Another proposal to the commission [PUCSL] to raise electricity tariffs by 20%

Lankadeepa

A senior official from the Ministry of Energy informed Lankadeepa that the National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd submitted a new proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) last Monday (27th) to increase electricity tariffs by nearly 20%.

Titled the “Revised Generation Cost Estimate,” the proposal covers the second and third quarters of the year and cites rising global fuel prices as a primary reason for the hike.

Additionally, the proposal accounts for a Rs. 15 billion subsidy proposed by the president for consumers using fewer than 90 units per month.

If this 20% increase is approved alongside a 10% hike implemented earlier this month, total electricity costs could rise by 30% for the remainder of the year.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS