19 November 2025 | Vol. 11, #208

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: “They are setting fire to racism; the Buddha statue issue is over; why are they still agitated?” – President | “We have boundless power that no one can question; the Alliance [TNA] must remember that” – Gnanasara Thera

Thinakaran: “We will never again allow room for racists in the country” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake states in Parliament | “Names and details of politicians connected with underworld groups very soon” – Ananda Wijepala | “Responsibility for resolving the Trincomalee Vihara issue lies with the court” – Sunil Watagala

Thinakkural: “Will Tamils ever get justice in Sri Lanka? Anura Government’s true face exposed today; Buddhist monks are the country’s executive presidents” – Jaffna University Students’ Union strongly condemns | “The Trincomalee Buddha statue issue is over! We will no longer allow room for racism” – The President | “Heavy security for the Trincomalee Buddha (statue); Attempt to incite racial conflict” – Minister Nalinda | “Tamil people hate the Ministry of Defence, which is responsible for all their suffering” – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Thamilan: “No more room for racism!” – President announces in parliament regarding the Trincomalee incident | “Do not release the land held by the military! National security is important to the country” – SJB MP Nalin Bandara insists in parliament | Injunction order on the construction of Sambuddha Jayanthi Viharaya; Minister Ananda (Wijepala) announces in parliament

Lankadeepa: Three fall victim to the underworld within 24 hours: a couple in Tangalle and a woman in Meetiyagoda; cashier killed on contract from ‘Karandeniya Sudda’

Divaina: Innocent people also fall victim to the Southern underworld: Nalin’s sister killed in Meetiyagoda to avenge the murder of ‘Sudda’s’ brother-in-law; motorbike the assailants arrived on found in Baddegama; people in the South terror-struck over suspicions on string of murders 

Mawbima: Massive scam uncovered: tourists were covertly taken into National Parks in safari jeeps to see the elephants in Kaudulla | “The problem in Trincomalee is over; why are you still worrying about it? There is no temple at that location; I have requested a report on the incident” – President

Dinamina: MP pensions abolished: Cabinet approves draft bill | “I have called for a report on the Trincomalee incident; all the organised conspiracies of the defeated will be defeated” – President states in parliament | A heart hospital to be built with Rs. 12 billion

Aruna: Grama Niladhari certificate not enough: Public Committee head’s approval also required for police reports

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only  

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

“Will Tamils ever get justice in Sri Lanka? Anura Government’s true face exposed today; Buddhist monks are the country’s executive presidents” – Jaffna University Students’ Union strongly condemns

Virakesari, Thinakkural

Representatives of the Jaffna University Students’ Union asserted that the root cause of the ethnic problem and the war is “Sinhala Buddhist majoritarianism, which has seen Tamil lands continuously subjected to Buddhist-Sinhala majoritarianism in the name of Buddha worship.”

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (18th), they stated that Tamil people, who voted believing a non-racist political culture would emerge, have been completely betrayed by the government “through the illegal re-installation of the statue in Trincomalee.”

The union questioned why the law is not enforced against those who illegally installed the statue, disturbed the peace, and assaulted the police.

They warned that they would not accept the systematic land grabbing carried out under the pretext of worship, concluding that the country’s state mechanism is fully subservient to the monks.

“No ban for commemorating the relatives; if LTTE commemorated, legal action will be taken” – Nalinda Jayatissa 

Virakesari 

Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa stated that there is no restriction on citizens commemorating their relatives who died in the country’s 30-year civil war, and every citizen has the right to do so.

However, he emphasised that if terrorists are commemorated under this pretext, legal action will be taken against those involved.

Minister Jayatissa also noted that since the current government took power in November of last year, various groups have attempted to incite racism, but these efforts have not been successful.

He confirmed that the government aims to prevent the recurrence of such a situation and will take all necessary steps to foster ethnic unity and reconciliation, ensuring peace and order in the country.

“Is placing Buddha’s statues in the premises of Lord Shiva an act of reconciliation?” – Premachandran questions

Virakesari

Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) Leader and DTNA’s Spokesperson Suresh Premachandran stated that the “illegal construction of new Buddha statues and Buddhisation activities in Trincomalee and its Koneswaram Temple area, which undermine its historical significance and the religious sentiments of Tamils, will never contribute to the country’s development or ethnic unity.”

He noted that successive Sinhala governments have surrounded the base of the Koneswaram Temple, a sacred site mentioned in the Devaarams [Hindu devotional poems] and over 2,500 years old, with Buddha statues and Buddhist institutions.

Premachandran pointed out that areas traditionally used by Tamils for last rites, such as the Kannya Hot Water Wells, have been encroached upon by Buddhist monks who now administer the site and are demolishing Hindu temples there.

“Do not release the land held by the military! National security is important to the country” – SJB MP Nalin Bandara insists in parliament

Thinakkural, Thamilan

SJB MP Nalin Bandara urged the government not to release lands connected to national security in the Northern Province, stressing that national security must take precedence over individual security when making land release decisions.

Speaking in parliament yesterday (18th), he asserted that the “30-year war is not entirely over and that future conflicts could arise, necessitating the retention of strategically important lands by the military.”

Bandara accused the government of acting irresponsibly and neglecting national security due to promises made to secure votes in the North.

He proposed that instead of releasing security-related lands, the government should take steps to provide alternative lands or adequate compensation to the rightful owners.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

“None of the government bungalows have been given to MPs or ministers” – Nalinda Jayatissa

Dinamina

Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that no government bungalows or houses have been given to any MP, minister, or politician.

The Minister made this statement yesterday (18th) during the Cabinet media briefing held at the Department of Government Information.

Jayatissa added that out of 32 government bungalows, six have been temporarily given on lease: four to the Ministry of Justice, one to the Police Department, and one to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

A programme from the government to solve the issues of local potato farmers

Dinamina

The government plans to formulate a systematic programme through short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans to resolve the issues faced by local potato farmers.

Under this programme, attention has been focused on purchasing potatoes from farmers at a price between Rs. 200 and Rs. 300 per kg, formulating a mechanism to purchase potatoes in collaboration with Sathosa, and increasing the tax imposed on imported potatoes.

A discussion on this matter was held yesterday (18th) at the Presidential Secretariat with Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, and potato farmers.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS