DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Central Bank of Sri Lanka must be held accountable – Ravi Karunanayake on the USD 2.5 million fraud; calls for the resignation of the Governor and the Monetary Board | Treasury Secretary announces that he cannot appear before the Government Finance Committee; also states clarification to be provided in Parliament | Why is the Treasury Secretary fleeing? Harsha de Silva questions | New skeletal remains identified at Chemmani mass grave site; bone fragments also exhumed | Bus plunges 50 feet into a precipice; one dead, 27 injured – incident in Dickoya Thinakaran: This May Day rally will be an opportunity to prove that the people of the country are with the National People’s Power government – Tilvin Silva | Special Gazette issued extending state of emergency | Decision to start electric train project in 2027 | Neelagama estate attack: steps underway to provide relief to victims – Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep | Attack on fisherfolk: Minister Chandrasekar condemns |
Thinakkural: Join our May Day rally – the struggle to oust this government begins tomorrow! MP Marikkar says those who attended the previous ‘compass’ meeting are also invited | Strong warning issued to Mahinda over bribery allegations | National People’s Power to hold 21 May Day rallies | How will Gotabaya’s testimony be obtained? – Jaffna Court to issue an order in June Thamilan: Electricity tariffs to rise again – 18% increase deemed necessary, says the Public Utilities Commission | May Day rallies held in several areas; NPP to hold 21 events; UNP rejects Sajith’s invitation | Opposition in fear due to court proceedings; Nalinda alleges a conspiracy against the government’s integrity | Wheat flour prices increase | Skeletal remains identified at the Chemmani mass grave site; skeletons numbered 217–220 fully exhumed |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Will the electricity bill increase? Decision to be made on April 9 | Interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket: Chairperson is Eran Wickramaratne Divaina: Indictments will be filed against Ranil Wickremesinghe and Saman Ekanayake on July 8: will study if Maithree Wickremesinghe will also be considered a suspect — Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informs the court
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Dinamina: Transformation committee for cricket administration: Eran Wickramaratne at the helm; posts given to Roshan Mahanama, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sidath Wettimuny as well Aruna: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage Anidda: TThis paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: ABC News
New skeletal remains identified at Chemmani mass grave site
Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
During the third day of the third phase of excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site, a new set of skeletal remains was identified.
Attorney-at-Law N. Reneetha stated that partial skeletal remains from two previously identified sets have been recovered, and additional bone fragments are currently being cleaned to determine the exact number of individuals.
The excavation is being conducted at a depth of 1.5 to 2 feet, where human remains have consistently been discovered.
Investigators also reported finding a small net-like object and a patch of suspicious dark-coloured soil, which is being processed through sieving for further evidence.
Companies must be excluded from land rights decisions for plantation workers – ISD
Virakesari The Institute of Social Development (ISD) has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake requesting an immediate amendment to a cabinet decision that grants plantation companies the authority to determine land allocations for workers affected by Cyclone Ditwah. This letter, which MP Mano Ganesan is set to present in parliament, highlights concerns that companies may exclude workers from land ownership by offering only financial compensation and evicting them if their services are deemed unnecessary. The ISD noted that the NPP’s ‘Hatton Declaration’ explicitly promised land and housing rights to the 67.8% of the community still living in line rooms. Referring to the 1991 privatisation process, the ISD asserted that line rooms and adjacent lands were to remain state property and eventually be integrated into local government administrations. Following a discussion on April 21, 2026, involving civil society and political leaders, the government is urged to ensure that all affected families receive both land and compensation regardless of their employment status. |
Court orders Admiral Ravindra to be named as defendant in abduction caseVirakesari
The Fort Magistrate’s Court ordered the CID on 29 April to name former Navy Commander and Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne as a defendant in the case involving the abduction and disappearance of 11 individuals, including five students. The case involves allegations that a Navy intelligence group led by former Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, also known as Navy Sampath, abducted victims in a “white van” for extortion and subsequently disappeared them. Admiral Wijegunaratne is accused of aiding Hettiarachchi, the primary suspect, to evade arrest in 2018 and remain in hiding. While the Attorney General had previously instructed the CID to exclude the Admiral from the indictment, Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara ruled that the prior decision was flawed. This ruling followed extensive arguments by Attorney Achala Seneviratne, representing the victims, who highlighted the necessity of including Wijegunaratne to ensure judicial accountability. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Morning
Missing funds from the National Treasury: Free Lawyers Organisation directs 22 questions at the Cabinet, including the President
Divaina
The Free Lawyers Organisation issued a letter including 22 questions to the Cabinet regarding the missing funds from the National Treasury, stating that although several days have passed since the alleged cyberattack involving a USD 2.5 million Treasury transaction, the relevant facts have not yet been reported to a Magistrate’s Court.
The organisation further added that, to date, investigators have not recorded statements from the suspended officers involved.
Accordingly, the organisation has directed 22 open questions to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Cabinet, emphasising that both the President and the Cabinet are required to provide clear and transparent responses.
Secretary to the Ministry of Finance lodges complaint against former secretary of Gotabaya RajapaksaDinamina A senior police officer stated that a statement was recorded from Bandara regarding the matter. Additionally, Sugeeshwara Bandara lodged a complaint with the Thalangama Police yesterday (29th), stating that an agitation was held in front of the residence of the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Harshana Suriyapperuma, on Tuesday morning (28th), and during that instance, a group had launched a cow dung attack at him and his group. |
Prisons are full: increase number of officers — Request made to the Ministry of JusticeDivaina The Department of Prisons has made a request to the Ministry of Justice to increase the number of officers in prisons to match the number of increased inmates. A high-ranking officer stated that about 40,000 inmates are being held in a prison where only 10,500 inmates could be held, and requested that the number of officers needed to facilitate this many inmates is also necessary. He added that the department may have the opportunity to recruit around 400 new wardens to the prisons in May, 2026. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Newsfirst
Transformation committee for cricket administration: Eran Wickramaratne at the helm; posts given to Roshan Mahanama, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sidath Wettimuny as well
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Ministry of Sports yesterday (29th) announced a transformation committee for Sri Lanka Cricket administration, and former MP Eran Wickramaratne has been named as its chairperson.
Additionally, former Test Cricket captains Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara have been included as members of this committee, while former veteran Test cricketer Sidath Wettimuny, former cricketer Prakash Schaffter, and Dinal Phillips, who previously served as cricket interim committee members, have also been named.
In addition, Thushira Raddella, who is experienced in the field of administration, Attorney-at-Law Upul Kumarapperuma, and Avanthi Colombage serve as its members.
Providing a new outlook to the Sri Lanka Cricket administration and protecting the rights of member cricket associations through a constitutional amendment are the primary duties assigned to this transformation committee.
Furthermore, it is expected that the appointment of this administrative committee will elevate the Sri Lanka cricket team onto a winning path.
Will the electricity bill increase? Decision to be made on April 9
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announced that the final decision regarding revised electricity tariffs will be released on May 9, 2026.
This follows a revised cost estimate for power generation submitted by National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd. on April 27, 2026, driven by an increase in global fuel prices.
Public consultations on the 2026 tariff revision proposal commenced yesterday (29th).
Stakeholders are invited to review the consultation paper and submit written proposals via post, email, WhatsApp, or fax until May 6, 2026.
Additionally, an oral hearing will be conducted at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.
Those wishing to provide oral submissions must register in advance by contacting 0764271030.
The Commission will reach its final decision after evaluating all stakeholder feedback.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Indictments will be filed against Ranil Wickremesinghe and Saman Ekanayake on July 8: will study if Maithree Wickremesinghe would also be considered a suspect — Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informs the court – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural
2. All parties are prepared for May Day celebrations tomorrow: several rallies to be held islandwide – Divaina, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. MP Archchuna granted bail – Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
4. Bus travelling from Diagama to Hatton falls down a precipice at Dickoya; one dead, 30 hospitalised – Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari
5. “The May Day Rally of the NPP will be a record that can never be broken” – JVP Secretary Tilvin Silva states – Divaina, Thinakaran
6. Cannot allow [more] time for the asset statement — CIABOC informs Mahinda Rajapaksa – Dinamina, Thinakkural
7. Investigations to apprehend three others involved in the drug scam who are currently hiding in Thailand – Divaina, Virakesari
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