6 January 2026 | Vol. 12, #2

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: Government strongly condemns US interference; Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath comments on actions against Venezuela| Resignation is the best course of action for the Prime Minister – Namal Rajapaksa | Sri Lanka and India in ongoing discussions over allocation of USD 450 million financial aid

Thinakaran: Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni visits Colombo South Teaching Hospital | Sri Lankan political parties condemn US interference in Venezuela | Lands offered as alternatives to Thaiyiddy Tissa land; Chief Prelate of Nainativu Vihara states | Ram resigns from Samagi Jana Balawegaya party positions

Thinakkural: Sri Lanka could face a situation similar to Venezuela due to US defence pacts; Wasantha Mudalige, activist of the People’s Struggle Movement, demands disclosure of agreement contents | Trump issues severe threats against Venezuela; Interim President expresses readiness to cooperate | Johnston and son arrested; Remanded until the 9th | President could be airlifted in Sri Lanka, similar to the incident involving the Venezuelan President – Namal Rajapaksa

Thamilan: Provincial council elections postponed; Government recedes due to financial crisis – Minister Chandana Abeyratne | Textbook controversy: Gammanpila demands release of inquiry report | Johnston and son remanded in custody | Only 13% of production can be spent under IMF regulations; Use funds optimally – President instructs secretaries

Lankadeepa: Will the electricity bill be increased? The verdict of the commission to be given in three weeks | ‘Johnny’ [Johnston] and son remanded over using Lanka Sathosa driver for family business

Divaina: Former Minister Johnston Fernando and son remanded till January 9

Mawbima: Former Minister Johnston Fernando and youngest son, Jerome, remanded till January 9 | CEB Employees’ Union objects to increasing the electricity bill

Dinamina: Siphoning ethanol from Sathosa vehicles: Former Minister ‘Johnny’ [Johnston] and his younger son remanded

Aruna: Warrantless arrests for environmental pollution: fines up to Rs. 1 million for noise, air, and water pollution

Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

Special parliamentary committee for provincial council elections to be appointed today

Virakesari, Thamilan

Minister Chandana Abeyratne is set to propose the appointment of a special parliamentary committee today (6th) to determine the electoral system for provincial council (PC) elections.

The committee will evaluate whether to proceed by introducing amendments to the Provincial Council Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 17 of 2017 or by completing the delimitation process.

While the government aims to expedite the polls, Minister Abeyratne indicated that elections might be delayed until late 2026 due to financial constraints following a recent disaster.

The first parliamentary session of 2026, presided over by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, commenced at 9:30 a.m. to discuss these legislative priorities.

Currently, all nine provincial councils remain under the administration of governors as their official terms expired over 11 years ago.

OMP to meet death row convict Somaratne Rajapakse over Chemmani mass grave

Thinakaran

Officials from the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) are scheduled to meet death row prisoner Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse this week to record information regarding the Chemmani mass grave.

OMP Chairperson Mahesh Katulanda confirmed that the Prisons Department has approved the visit to obtain details on the 1996 Jaffna crimes and enforced disappearances.

Rajapakse, the primary convict in the Krishanthi Kumaraswamy murder case, previously submitted an affidavit on October 4, 2025, expressing his willingness to name those responsible for these events.

Copies of the affidavit were reportedly provided to the OMP, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and officials of the UN accountability project on Sri Lanka.

The move follows a request for an independent inquiry sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake by Rajapakse’s wife and a previous meeting with OMP officials on August 18.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

“Appropriate action must be taken against those who made education obscene and conduct unbiased investigations against them” – Premadasa

Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa stated that free education is the country’s most valuable asset and a vital component of the welfare state.

Premadasa noted that despite numerous challenges and hardships, free education was incorporated into state policy to ensure an equitable right to education for all.

These remarks were made while Premadasa addressed concerns regarding issues in educational reforms.

However, Premadasa added that the government has engaged in an arrogant reform process, moving away from proper discussions and methodologies, resulting in obscenity being included in reforms instead of civility.

Premadasa noted that obscenity has preyed upon free education.

He further stated that these irregular and informal educational reforms must be halted and formalised, and an independent and impartial investigation must be conducted regarding the inclusion of obscene content in modules, as this cannot be achieved through internal investigations.

Procurement of agriculture building in Rajagiriya: CIABOC questions Rishad for three hours

Lankadeepa, Dinamina

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday (5th) after being summoned by the commission.

The CIABOC has launched an investigation into the procurement of a building on a rental basis in the Rajagiriya area for the operation of the Ministry of Agriculture during the tenure of the previous government.

Lankadeepa reported that the former minister was questioned for three hours, while Dinamina reported he was questioned for two and a half hours.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS