20 January 2026 | Vol. 12, #11

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: Bail applications for 4 monks and others rejected; Trincomalee Magistrate issues order over Buddha statue installation | Pictorial: Monks, lawyers, and civil representatives gathered at the Trincomalee Court complex

Thinakaran: “High interest in investing in the North; It is our responsibility to improve infrastructure and create a conducive environment for investment” — Northern Province Governor | Plantation workers’ wages increased to Rs. 1,750 | New activities of the Ministry of Digital Economy; Discussion headed by the President | Grade 6 English textbook; Officials who prepared the controversial curriculum suspended

Thinakkural: Consequences of the Jaffna speech: “Arrest Anura once his term ends”; PHU files CID complaint alleging President is attempting to create communal conflict | Refusal to remove illegal construction; 10 individuals, including 4 monks, remanded until the 28th

Thamilan: Trincomalee Buddha statue issue; Remand of monks extended | Doctors preparing for strike action 

Lankadeepa: Issue with the module: Deputy Director General of the National Institute of Education sent home [on compulsory leave]: two others suspended; digital data handed over to the CID

Divaina: Attorney General agrees to withdraw the first charge under the Coast Conservation Act: 10, including Ven. Kassapa Thera remanded once again

Mawbima: AG and Police take two different stances: bail application of the suspects related to the Trincomalee Buddha statue incident, dismissed | Grama Niladhari officers withdraw from [disbursement of] Rs. 5 million relief compensation 

Dinamina: Grade 6 module issue: two female officials suspended; Deputy Director General on compulsory leave | Parents stage protest in front of Isurupya demanding educational reforms

Aruna: Grama Niladhari officers withdraw from [disbursement of] Rs. 5 million relief compensation: compensation is expected for missing pieces of paper and cracked walls; we will have to answer during the audit – Grama Niladhari Trade Union Alliance

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

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

Action to drain rainwater from the Chemmani mass grave on February 9; Case adjourned

Thinakkural, Thamilan, Virakesari

The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court ordered the removal of stagnant rainwater from the Chemmani mass grave site on February 9 to facilitate the resumption of excavations.

Jaffna Magistrate S. Lenin Kumar, Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) S. Pranavan, and CID officers inspected the flooded site yesterday (19th) and noted that progress is currently stalled.

The court directed the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha to assist in the drainage and ordered that no terrain changes or unauthorised development occur until the process is complete.

JMO S. Pranavan will prepare a new budget for the project, as previous funds were returned at the end of the year.

To date, 240 skeletal remains have been identified at the site, with 239 recovered during previous excavation phases.

“Government is trying to marginalise us in the North and East” — ITAK Leader C.V.K. Sivagnanam

Thinakkural

Chairperson of the ITAK C.V.K. Sivagnanam accused the government of sidelining Tamil political representatives in the North and East by treating state events as JVP and NPP party gatherings.

Speaking to the media in Jaffna yesterday (19th), he highlighted that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent Thai Pongal visit excluded elected Tamil MPs and local government members from official stages.

Sivagnanam noted that despite ITAK showing goodwill by the refusal of its eight MPs to sign the no-confidence motion against PM Harini Amarasuriya, the government continues to ignore established democratic representatives.

He further alleged that administrative responsibilities are being delegated to NPP candidates for upcoming elections rather than to those who already hold public mandates.

Sivagnanam urged the president to reconsider these actions, warning that such exclusion would lead to significant dissatisfaction across the region.

Consequences of the Jaffna speech: “Arrest Anura once his term ends”; PHU files CID complaint alleging the President is attempting to create communal conflict

Thinakkural, Virakesari

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Youth Secretary Kumar Rajarathna filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday (19th) against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The complaint alleges that the President’s speech in Jaffna on January 16, which questioned why Buddhists travel past major religious sites like the Sri Maha Bodhi to the North for religious activities, incites communal hatred and violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.

Rajarathna requested that the CID arrest and prosecute the President under the ICCPR Act once his term concludes and his presidential immunity is removed.

“History of Tamils blacked out from Social Studies curriculum” — Shanakiyan Rasamanickam

Thinakaran

IITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stated that the history of Tamils, which was removed from Social Studies textbooks, should be re-included in the curriculum.

During a press conference at his office in Kaluwanchikudy, he reflected on how the late ITAK leader R. Sampanthan often predicted political solutions by the “next Pongal” or “next Deepavali.”

He noted that while these statements were made based on certain expectations at the time, they were frequently criticised or viewed with scepticism by the public.

Rasamanickam’s remarks highlight a continued demand for historical recognition and political transparency within the education system.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

NCM against PM: Opposition on the fence

Dinamina

Chief Opposition Whip, MP Gayantha Karunathilleka, told Dinamina that it will be decided during the group meeting whether the no-confidence motion (NCM) to be brought by the SJB against Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya will be handed over to the Speaker this week.

The NCM against Prime Minister Amarasuriya was scheduled to be presented to the Speaker by the SJB during the previous parliamentary session.

“Make Ranil Wickremesinghe advisor and give the leadership of the alliance to Sajith Premadasa” – Chamindranee Kiriella

Dinamina

OLegal Secretary of the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya (SVB) SJB MP Chamindranee Kiriella stated that the leadership of the new alliance between the SJB and the UNP should be given to the Leader of the SJB, Sajith Premadasa.

Kiriella added that the Leader of the UNP, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, would most probably hold the position of advisor in the alliance.

She further added that discussions regarding the alliance between the two parties are being carried out successfully.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS