DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “The government has a deal with the plantation companies. Should take action to audit the profit and loss and provide the maximum benefit of the income to the plantation workers” – Ajith P. Perera | An attempt to build a Buddhist place of worship suspended temporarily | Doctors to launch a trade union action from today Thinakaran: Decision taken to form drug prevention committees in government, private, and educational institutions | “No ministers committed any wrongdoing on container release” – Nalinda Jayatissa | Invitation letter for Ranil; CID team travels to England for investigation | Poppy flower pinned on the prime minister |
Thinakkural: “Even if Tamil Nadu rises up, Tamil Eelam will not be achieved; You yourselves must fight” – Thirumavalavan states | “Military personnel from many countries are learning Prabhakaran’s war strategies” – says Thirumavalavan | “Tamil Nadu government’s silence is a danger to Eelam Tamils” – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam | The country’s drug supply is coming to an end! Drug arrivals blocked! Police say there is a huge shortage Thamilan: Limited service of government doctors! Hospital operations face risk of being paralysed today | Southern Province Governor Bandula Harischandra passes away |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: CID goes to London, bypassing attorney general, to search for invitation Ranil Wickremesinghe received from the university | A revelation in parliament by the Leader of the House: “former speakers have taken kilos of cheese to their bungalows; parliamentary secretaries have gone on an excessive number of trips abroad; almsgivings of certain people’s brothers has also been given; the parliament is also under the mandate of the people” – Bimal Rathnayake Divaina: Chaos in Kandana: father goes on fatal journey in pursuit of daughter, who eloped; one killed, four hospitalised Mawbima: Writing prescriptions for medicine that is not available within state hospitals but available externally, to be halted; external tests to also not be written – A firm decision from the GMOA | Transfers made for four high posts in the police, including the post of police administrator; Acting IGP is Sanjeewa Dharmarathna
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Dinamina: “Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had 39 Advisors, 23 Coordinating Secretaries, 250 Staff Officers, 963 non-staff officers, a full staff of 1,252” – Nalinda Jayatissa Aruna: Specialist doctors go on strike for the first time in history Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
“Even after sending 3 letters to the President, no reply has been received so far” – Shritharan MP states in parliament
Thinakkural, Virakesari
ITAK MP S. Shritharan stated that despite sending three letters to the president requesting the release of lands, including the ‘Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam’ (cemeteries) in Theravil and the Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalaya, as well as the cessation of military interference in civil activities, he has received no response.
Speaking in parliament, Shritharan emphasised that soldiers desecrating these sites by walking on graves with boots widens the gap in reconciliation rather than fostering unity.
He pointed out that just as the current government—which shares a history of struggle—recently commemorated the Sinhalese youth killed during the insurrection, they must also understand the similar pain and sentiments of the Tamil people regarding their dead.
Consequently, he urged the government to release these resting places in time for ‘Maaveerar Naal’, noting that Minister Chandrasekar had previously indicated the president’s willingness to release such lands in the North and East.
An attempt to build a Buddhist place of worship suspended temporarily
Virakesari Illegal construction work, led by a monk, was reportedly carried out yesterday (16th) without permission at the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhi Raja Vihara premises located near the Dutch Bay coast within Fort Frederick, Trincomalee. Officials from the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management and journalists who visited the site to inspect the unauthorised activities were threatened and forced to leave the premises. Following a complaint lodged by the department officials at the Trincomalee Harbour Police, the construction work has been temporarily suspended, and the police have filed a court case regarding the matter. Reports indicate that despite a previous attempt earlier this month to remove an illegal canteen at the site and a pending legal dispute with the municipal council, permanent construction was initiated overnight on Saturday (15th) without approval from relevant authorities. |
“The government has a deal with the plantation companies. Should take action to audit the profit and loss and provide the maximum benefit of the income to the plantation workers” – Ajith P. Perera
Thamilan, Thinakkural SJB MP Ajith P. Perera alleged that the government has a deal with plantation companies and urged the authorities to audit these companies’ profits to provide maximum benefits to plantation workers. Addressing a media briefing, Perera claimed that the government had distorted a statement made by SJB MP Rohini Kavirathna regarding the Rs. 200 wage increase for political propaganda, clarifying that she had only pointed out legal procedural flaws. He further alleged that plantation owners supported President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s victory and addressed him informally as “Machan.” Additionally, Perera criticised the 2026 Budget, asserting that it favours the capitalist class while offering no relief to the middle class. |
“Prabhakaran is an unbeatable leader!” – Thirumavalavan praises in Jaffna
Thamilan, Thinakkural
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Leader Thol. Thirumavalavan stated that countries around the world teach LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s military strategies in their military colleges due to his military wisdom and invincibility.
Speaking at an event at Nallur Kittu Park in Jaffna, Thirumavalavan recalled his close relationship with the LTTE leader and highlighted Prabhakaran’s geopolitical foresight, citing his description of Norway as the friendly face of America in 2002.
He noted that, unlike contemporary leaders who speak frequently, the entire world eagerly awaited Prabhakaran’s single annual speech on ‘Maaveerar Naal’ (Great Heroes’ Day).
Furthermore, he emphasised that Prabhakaran never portrayed the Indian government as an enemy in his addresses, as he possessed the clarity that Tamil aspirations could only be fulfilled with India’s acceptance.
Thinakkural highlighted him saying that Eelam Tamils should abandon the belief that Tamil Eelam can be achieved solely if Tamil Nadu rises up in agitation.
He emphasised that they must instead unite as one nation under a single leadership to handle the Tamil issue.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
“Money has even been taken from the President’s Fund to frame Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s photograph” – Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara states
Lankadeepa, Dinamina
Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, stated in parliament on Saturday (15th) that even the Rs. 9,270 spent to laminate and frame a photograph of former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa that was required for her China tour was spent from the President’s Fund.
He also added that Rs. 0.66 million (Rs. 660,000) had been spent on a Pirith chanting held at the Carlton Residence in Tangalle on April 9, 2014, to mark the birthday of Namal Rajapaksa and the New Year festival at the Carlton Residence.
The minister made this statement while participating in the Committee Stage debate on the Appropriation Bill.
Nanayakkara stressed that this is how former presidents of that time used their expenditure heads while the state revenue was negative.
The trawler, together with five individuals who brought drugs to Kirinda, seizedDivaina, Mawbima, Dinamina The multi-day fishing trawler named ‘Kasun Putha’ from Gandara, which allegedly brought 329 kg of ‘ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) to the Kirinda, Adagalawella coastal strip, was arrested on the high seas by the officers of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB). The trawler was subsequently brought to the Tangalle Fisheries Harbour on Saturday (15th). The five suspects aboard the fishing trawler were produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate yesterday (16th) by the Narcotics Special Investigation Unit. The Tissamaharama Magistrate ordered that the suspects be detained and questioned until November 21. |
“Mahinda, Namal, Chandima, Seetha, Bandula, Lanza, Jagath Kumara and Lokuge have got houses from Viyathpura and given them to outsiders” – Wasantha SamarasingheDinamina Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, stated in parliament on Saturday (15th) that Rs. 529 million has been spent in the recent past to provide ‘Viyathpura’ houses to MPs and Ministers. Samarasinghe added that Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa, Chandima Weerakkody, Seetha Arambepola, Bandula Gunawardana, Nimal Lanza, Jagath Kumara, and Gamini Lokuge also had houses in this scheme and that the said houses had been given to outsiders. Samarasinghe made the statement while participating in the Committee Stage debate of the Appropriation Bill (2026) Budget. |
“ITAK to have a discussion with the president next week” – Shanakiyan
Dinamina
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam announced in parliament that a discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the ITAK party is scheduled to be held next week.
Rasamanickam made the statement while participating in the debate on the Second Reading of the Budget on Friday (14th).
Further commenting, Rasamanickam also stated: “We are meeting in this manner to discuss the issues concerning the Tamil people. Our party has placed its trust in the president.”
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ceylon Today
Writing prescriptions for medicine that is not available within state hospitals but available externally, to be halted; external tests to also not be written – A firm decision from the GMOA
Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) announced that doctors in all hospitals across the country will limit the provision of selected services starting today (17th).
The GMOA is implementing this decision as a form of trade union action to protest the government’s failure to address their demands in the recent Budget.
The services to be restricted include halting the issuance of prescriptions for drugs that must be purchased from outside pharmacies that are not available in state hospitals and limiting the recommendation of tests to be performed by external laboratories.
CID goes to London, bypassing AG in search of invitation Ranil Wickremesinghe received from the university
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
A five-member Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team has left for the United Kingdom (UK) to probe the authenticity of the invitation letter allegedly sent by the University of Wolverhampton to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
However, papers reported that the visit had gone ahead without informing the Attorney General (AG).
It was reported further that the AG’s Department had been kept in the dark regarding the CID team’s UK visit, and no instructions from the AG had been sought by senior CID officers in charge of the probe prior to the team’s departure.
The team, led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), a Chief Inspector (CI), and two junior officers, flew to the UK earlier this week on a five-day visit.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Governor of the South Bandula Harischandra passes away – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thamilan
2. Drug prevention committees for all state institutions | Decision taken to form drug prevention committees in government, private, and educational institutions – Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. “Former President Ranil had 39 Advisors, 23 Coordinating Secretaries, 250 Staff Officers, 963 non-staff officers, a full staff of 1,252” – Nalinda Jayatissa – Divaina, Dinamina, Thinakaran
4. Hill country workers protest Ranil, Sajith, Namal and Rohini | Huge protest carrying coffins and burning effigies against those opposing the Rs. 200 (wage hike) – Dinamina, Thinakkural
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