24 October 2025 | Vol. 11, #191

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: “Investigate the ‘white flag’ controversy; examine Sarath Fonseka’s claims and punish all involved” – ITAK demands in parliament | “Military personnel play a major role in drug distribution; cancer has spread in the North and East and even to the South” – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Thinakaran: “Names of individuals linked to underworld gangs to be revealed soon – Harshana Nanayakkara |2026 Budget: President’s Speech on November 7 – Speaker Announces | “700 acres of land to be released in the North and East this year” – Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara | Longstanding issues of school principals resolved; Principals’ Service Association thanks the government

Thinakkural: “Those who surrendered with a white flag during the final war were shot with the permission of Shavendra Silva; they must be punished because Fonseka confirmed it” – Kodeeswaran MP | “Follow the Tigers’ [LTTE] law to eliminate drugs” – Kodeeswaran MP

Thamilan: “Shootings may take place in Parliament!” warns MP Mujibur| Land acquisition; investigation against former upcountry MPs – Deputy Minister Aravinda Senarath 

Lankadeepa: Loans amounting to Rs. 1,000 billion taken to purchase vehicles: debtors increased by 15% within a year: a majority from the Western Province; demand for vehicles has also decreased now | Six bullets [had been shot] to the head and chest of the Weligama chairperson: post-mortem investigations reveal

Divaina: The Weligama chairperson was murdered by an order given to a soldier who deserted service: shooter identified

Mawbima: Akurassa and Ahangama combed in search of the murderer of the Weligama chairperson: was the reason for the murder four weapons? | Parliament to undergo three-day special security operation next week

Dinamina: “Former MPs and ministers have appropriated lands in Nuwara Eliya: Vadivel, Sathasivam, Mahindananda, Siyambalapitiya and former Lottery Board chair also among them” – Deputy Minister Aravinda Senarath reveals in parliament

Aruna: CID launches  investigations into five actresses whose details emerged from Kehelbaddara Padme’s phone: police to record statement from the Miss Sri Lanka model as well; an actress had also sent an explicit video to Padme

Anidda: Lakehouse in crisis due to having to pay Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Rs. 1.3 billion

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

“700 acres of land released in the North and East this year” – Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara

Thinakaran

Responding to ITAK MP Sathiyalingam, Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara informed parliament that a significant extent of military-held lands in the Northern and Eastern provinces had been released this year alone, specifying that 566 acres of state land and 86.24 acres of private land were released in the Northern Province, and 34.58 acres in the Eastern Province.

He added that opening the Thachankulam – Moonrumurippu road for public use is currently not possible due to the need to ensure the security of the Air Force Base and the Security Forces Headquarters.

He clarified that a final decision on the road would be made after a discussion at the National Security Council.

“Military personnel play a major role in drug distribution; cancer has spread in the North and East and even to the South” – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Virakesari, Thamilan, Thinakkural

ACTC MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam claimed in Parliament that the Army has a significant role in drug distribution in the Northern and Eastern provinces and stated that the “cancer of drugs spread by the Army to defeat the revolution of the LTTE has now spread to the South as well.”

He asserted that during the ceasefire agreement period (2001-2006), “drug use was zero in the LTTE-controlled areas of the North and East, and very low in government-controlled areas due to the LTTE’s influence.”

He alleged that the drug problem grew in Jaffna after 1995 when it came under Army control, and that the North and East—especially the Northern Province—have been severely affected since 2009.

The MP further claimed that when drug dealers are identified and pursued by the community, they often hide in Army camps, and that the police refuse to record complaints made at police stations.

MP Ponnambalam urged the government to completely remove the Army from anti-drug operations to take constructive action, stating that they are the “root cause of drug use in the North and East.”

“Investigate the ‘white flag’ controversy; examine Sarath Fonseka’s claims and punish all involved” – ITAK demands in parliament

Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan

ITAK MP  Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran stated in Parliament that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka had claimed that civilians and LTTE members who surrendered with white flags during the 2009 war were shot and killed with the permission of former Army Commander Shavendra Silva.

The MP demanded that all those involved in the incident, including politicians and then-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, must be punished.

Kodeeswaran affirmed that the lack of investigation by successive governments into these killings since the war’s end in 2009 has caused the Tamil people to lose confidence in a domestic mechanism, necessitating the call for an international investigation to ensure accountability.

Furthermore, the MP noted that the government has also failed to deliver justice for the Easter Sunday attacks due to the involvement of military officials and politicians.

He warned that the current administration would be viewed similarly to past governments if it continues to avoid punishing the correct perpetrators.

“Fifteen years have passed since the war ended; immediately stop land grabbing in the North” – MP Sathiyalingam   

Thinakkural 

ITAK MP S. Sathiyalingam requested Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara in Parliament to release civilian lands that continue to be occupied under the guise of security, despite 15 years having passed since the end of the war.

Sathiyalingam pointed out that the Thachankulam-Moonrumurippu main road remains closed due to security reasons, leading to discussions about constructing an alternative road.

He asked if the Ministry of Defence could arrange for the allocation of funds for the development of this road in the 2026 Budget, as discussed at a recent Vavuniya District Development Committee meeting.

The MP also noted specific land occupations, stating that the Vavuniya Police Station is built on land belonging to the Municipal Council, a military camp occupies the land of the Eechankulam [LTTE] cemetery, and a Special Task Force camp is on public land in the Chettikulam area.

He questioned what action could be taken to release these occupied lands, asserting that the continued seizure of civilian lands in the name of security is improper.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

“The government must take the responsibility of not giving security to the Weligama chairperson” – Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa

Dinamina

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated in parliament yesterday (23rd) that the government must take responsibility for failing to ensure adequate security for the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairperson.

Further expressing his views, Premadasa questioned whether the government acknowledges that the current wave of murders poses a threat to national security, “especially at a time when the country and society are succumbing to a culture of killings.”

He pointed out that the government was “dismissing this threat to national security” and stressed that the administration of justice must prevail in a democratic country.

Opposition MPs protest the death of the Weligama chairperson while wearing black in parliament

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina

Several MPs of the opposition were seen wearing black armbands and attire within parliament chambers in protest of the assassination of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairperson, Lasantha Wickramasekara.

Addressing the parliament yesterday (23rd), SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahman stated that they entered parliament dressed in black and wearing black armbands to “express their opposition to the prevailing culture of assassinations in the country.”

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS