4 May 2026 | Vol. 12, #76

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: “We will completely eradicate racism and religious extremism” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, recipient of the Kamban Pugazh award, makes a firm announcement |Photograph: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake receives the Kamban Pugazh Award 2026

Thinakaran: Tamil Nadu election results today! DMK, AIADMK and TVK are the main contenders | Photograph: The All Ceylon Kamban Kazhagam hosted a grand Kamban Festival at the Wellawatte Ramakrishna Mission Hall, where the prestigious Kamban Pugazh Award 2026 was presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday 

Thinakkural: “Presidential interference in future court verdicts; the Rajapaksas will not be intimidated by any threats; they will respond legally” – Mahinda’s spokesperson | “What is the commission going to do regarding the president’s interference in court verdicts?” – Attorney-at-law Maithri Gunaratne | Fuel prices have increased once again!

Thamilan: Will Mahinda be arrested? A turning point in the Airbus procurement case as the CIABOC issues summons | Fuel prices increased | Vehicle prices may increase! The Importers’ Association points out 

Lankadeepa: 120 foreign nationals arrested in Welikada over internet scamming: 31 women among them; cash worth Rs. 30 million in foreign and local currencies; 202 computers confiscated by the police | The incident of purchasing airplanes: Mahinda Rajapaksa and Piyankara Jayaratne called before the CIABOC | “The CIABOC has not asked Mahinda to come; the government has released statements even before the notices were issued” – The former president’s Media Spokesperson Manoj Gamage

Divaina: Fuel prices increased for the sixth time this year: School van fees to be increased by 12%; no change in container transport fees; “If fuel prices increase in June, bus fares will be increased” – President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne; Will have to increase three-wheeler fares – The Three-wheeler Drivers’ Association; 92 Petrol increased by Rs. 12, 95 Petrol by Rs. 12, White Diesel by Rs. 10, Super Diesel by Rs. 15 and kerosene by Rs. 12

Dinamina: The Airbus transaction: Notices issued against Mahinda Rajapaksa and Piyankara Jayaratne; called before the CIABOC on May 12; International warrant issued for Chamal Rajapaksa’s son Shamindra Rajapaksa

Aruna: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage

Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

“Provincial council elections after the parliamentary special committee takes a decision” – The chairperson of the Election Commission states

Thinakaran

Election Commission (EC) Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake informed political party secretaries that the commission has submitted its proposals to the parliamentary select committee regarding provincial council elections.

Rathnayake stated that the EC is prepared to conduct the elections under any system recommended by the committee once it is approved by parliament and enacted into law. Rathnayake emphasised that the authority to determine the electoral system—whether the old system or the new system based on delimitation—rests solely with parliament.

The select committee is expected to submit its report within three months.

The Easter Sunday attacks: Secret WhatsApp information released, confirming that a prior warning was provided

Virakesari, Thamilan

Social activist Oshala Herath shared screenshots of WhatsApp messages allegedly exchanged between the director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and the secretary to the Ministry of Defence prior to the Easter Sunday attacks on April 21, 2019.

Based on foreign intelligence, the messages identified Zahran Hashim and his associates as planning attacks on churches and hotels, and noted a suspicious “dry run” involving a motorcycle in the Eastern Province.

According to a timeline presented to a parliamentary select committee, the SIS received initial intelligence via WhatsApp on April 4, 2019, followed by formal written information on April 5, 2019. Although the chief of national intelligence and the secretary to the Ministry of Defence were informed by April 8, 2019, the threat was reportedly not given sufficient priority during intelligence coordination meetings.

The shared data suggests that security authorities were warned that an attack could occur at any time before April 21, 2019, yet failed to take appropriate action.

The USD 2.5 million fraud: The president, in his capacity as the minister of finance, will address parliament tomorrow

Thinakaran, Virakesari 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the minister of finance, is scheduled to deliver a special address in parliament tomorrow (5th) regarding the fraudulent diversion of USD 2.5 million from the Treasury.

Internal institutional audits and a formal investigation by the CID are currently underway to identify those responsible for the scam.

The president’s statement is expected to clarify the government’s position and the progress of the ongoing investigations into the financial irregularity.

Tamil Nadu election results today! DMK, AIADMK and TVK are the main contenders

Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Virakesari

The counting of votes for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, along with four other states and the union territory of Puducherry, is set to begin today (4th). A record 85.10% voter turnout was reported in Tamil Nadu, with 48.8 million out of 57.3 million eligible voters casting their ballots for 4,023 candidates.

The election features a high-stakes four-way contest between the DMK alliance, the AIADMK alliance, the Naam Tamilar Katchi, and the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay.

The results are highly anticipated both nationally and internationally as they will determine whether traditional Dravidian parties maintain their hold or if a new political force will emerge.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

A building constructed on a railway department property by Mahindananda Aluthgamage, sealed off 

Lankadeepa, Dinamina

All movable and immovable properties of the Mahindananda Foundation, which had been maintained on a lease for 25 years on land belonging to the Department of Railways, were re-vested in the Department of Railways following a decision taken by the Nuwara Eliya District Coordinating Committee.

The Department of Railways informed the secretary of the foundation to hand over the property, as former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had used the land and building for his political and public activities, thereby violating the lease agreements. Accordingly, General Manager of Railways Ravindra Pathmapriya informed Dinamina that they were handed over on Saturday (2nd).

Journalists chased out of the SJB rally 

Dinamina

Allegations have surfaced that journalists who arrived to cover the May Day rally organised by the SJB at the P.D. Sirisena Grounds in Maligawatte were prevented from carrying out their reporting and were turned away.

Although media institutions had been invited to cover the rally held under the patronage of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, a group from the media unit turned away the journalists upon their arrival. It is reported that journalists were denied entry under the claim that no one was permitted to cover the rally with cameras and equipment. In response to this situation, photographers in particular engaged in a protest at the location.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS