DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Government intensifies efforts to remove the attorney general; Main Opposition seeks international intervention | Pictorial: India’s 77th Republic Day event was held at India House in Colombo. During the event, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva were seen conversing Thinakaran: “Concern for protecting religious sites and archaeological shrines; economic development alongside excellent human relations is what society needs” – President | Salary increase for public servants; an additional expense of Rs. 220 billion this year |
Thinakkural: “Shiranthi should not try to escape the law when summoned for investigation; she must act with the responsibility of being Mahinda’s wife and Namal’s mother” – says the Cabinet Spokesperson | Minister Bimal intercepted and questioned during Colombo Fort inspection | What is Namal’s connection with Kehelbaddara Padme? Nalinda explains the reason for the summons for investigation Thamilan: Air pollution in Jaffna! Why has no action been taken? – Court of Appeal questions | Fill the vacancy for the Auditor General; Mahanayake Theras send an urgent letter to the President |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Imitation jewellery pawned in the guise of gold: bank manager that stole Rs. 15 million, remanded: the individual has appeared under several names in 26 instances | The three vessel incident: former coal chairperson summoned to parliament Divaina: “Will implement the educational reforms for Grade 1 tomorrow: reforms for Grade 6 to be implemented from next year: the first child to have undergone new educational reforms will leave school in 2032” — President states in Gampola Mawbima: Ditwah insurance compensation: Rs. 53 billion out of the requests amounting to Rs. 58.5 billion, not paid: 24,500 requests made to 14 companies: most compensation requests for property damages | “Cannot dismiss the public’s stance on the delay in court cases” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa
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Dinamina: “Authority with powers and a bill with strict laws will be introduced to protect the Central Highlands” — President states in Gampola Aruna: 1,375 road accidents in 25 days: 155 deaths Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Lankasara
“There should be no party politics in the opposition to the Kivul Oya project” – MP Gajendrakumar emphasises
Thinakkural
ACTC General Secretary and MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam stated that protests against the Kivul Oya project should be led by civil society leaders rather than political parties to ensure the movement remains non-partisan.
Speaking to the media yesterday (27th), he noted that while his party opposes the project, ITAK’s current call for a protest should not be used for political gain ahead of provincial council elections.
Ponnambalam highlighted that the project falls under the Mahaweli L Zone, where traditional Tamil villages like Kokkachchankulam were previously renamed as Bogaswewa and land was distributed to the majority community during the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration.
He asserted that ACTC would provide its full cooperation if civil society organisations took the lead in opposing the project instead of political parties.
Religious leaders support ‘Black Day’ rally to be held in North and East on February 4
Thinakkural The Jaffna University Students’ Union (JUSU) declared February 4, Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, as a “Black Day” and initiated a campaign to mobilise the public for a protest march across the North and East. JUSU representatives met with Head of Thenkailai Aadheenam Agasthiyar Adigalar and Bishop of Trincomalee Most Rev. Noel Emmanuel yesterday (27th) to seek their support for the initiative. Most Rev. Emmanuel noted that the protest highlights the continuous rejection of the Tamil people’s needs and urged all stakeholders to provide their support. Agasthiyar Adigalar asserted that independence since 1948 has been a curse for the Tamil community and called on both local and diaspora Tamils to back the youth-led struggle to protect their existence. |
“Salary increase for public servants; an additional expense of Rs. 220 billion this year” – NalindaThinakaran Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the government will incur an additional expenditure of Rs. 220 billion this year to provide basic salary increases for all public sector employees, including doctors. Addressing a press briefing held yesterday (27th) at the Department of Government Information, he noted that this cost is projected to increase to Rs. 330 billion by 2027. Jayatissa highlighted that the administration has already implemented these basic salary increments across the entire state sector. He emphasised that this significant financial commitment is required to facilitate the pay rise for government employees. |
“Shiranthi should not try to escape the law when summoned for investigation; she must act with the responsibility of being Mahinda’s wife and Namal’s mother” – says the Cabinet Spokesperson
Thinakkural Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that Shiranthi Rajapaksa has a social responsibility to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) without evading the law. Speaking at a press briefing yesterday (27th), he noted that Rajapaksa, the wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and mother of MP Namal Rajapaksa, requested a two-week extension to provide a statement regarding the Siriliya account. Jayatissa remarked that while requesting time for reasonable causes is permissible, a former First Lady should set a precedent by respecting legal processes. He further urged her to demonstrate accountability as a role model for students at Carlton Pre-school, which she oversees. |
“Sri Lanka has a special place in India’s foreign policy vision” – High Commissioner Santosh Jha takes prideVirakesari Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha asserted that the relationship between India and Sri Lanka has evolved into a global model for cooperative partnership between neighbours. Speaking at the Republic Day reception held on Monday (26th), he highlighted that the visits of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India in December 2024 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in April 2025 established a strategic roadmap for bilateral connectivity. Jha noted significant progress in key infrastructure projects, including the Sampur solar plant, railway modernisation between Maho and Omanthai, and plans to resume ferry services between Rameswaram and Talaimannar. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
We want to find solutions through a table of discussion: we will reply aptly to the arrogance of the government — GMOA
Divaina, Aruna
Secretary of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Dr Prabath Sugathadasa stated that the final decision regarding launching a continuous medical strike will be announced today (28th), demanding the establishment of a ‘Sri Lankan Medical Service’ exclusively for doctors, including all physicians and immediate solutions to other issues.
Sugathadasa added further that trade union actions, including not issuing prescriptions to patients and not recommending external laboratory tests, are continuing.
The Executive Committee of the GMOA met yesterday (27th) and discussed at length the next trade union action to be taken.
Accordingly, Sugathadasa noted that the final decision will be made by the Central Committee.
FCID questions former minister P. Harrison for seven hours over dairy cattle fraudLankadeepa, Dinamina The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) extensively questioned P. Harrison, who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation, and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development at the time, for approximately seven hours regarding an investigation into the failure to import 15,000 (Lankadeepa reports amount as 20,000) pregnant dairy cattle despite paying an advance of USD 11.7 million to an Australian company in 2018 using a loan obtained from a Dutch bank. |
New laws to curb cyber crimes against childrenDinamina MCabinet approval has been granted to introduce new legislation and amend existing laws, including the introduction of a new legal framework to address cyber crimes against children. Under the purview of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, several new laws are scheduled to be introduced and existing ones amended within the year 2026. Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Paulraj, for the introduction and amendment of these laws. |
“The Speaker does not have the power to suspend the Deputy Secretary-General” – Lakshman Kiriella
Aruna
Former MP and Attorney-at-Law Lakshman Kiriella of the SJB stated that a Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament cannot be removed under the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and that this incident causes a significant blemish to the Sri Lankan Parliament.
Kiriella made these remarks while attending a press conference held at the SJB head office yesterday (27th).
He further stated that the two primary methods by which the Parliament of Sri Lanka is governed are the Standing Orders and the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, and accordingly, the Speaker has no power to remove a Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily News
“Authority with powers and a bill with strict laws will be introduced to protect the Central Highlands” — President states in Gampola
Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Yesterday (27th), President Anura Kumara Dissanayake launched the national programme ‘Godanagamu Adhishtanaye Sanhinda’ to restore religious sites damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, in order to preserve the historical and cultural value of the sites.
The launch took place at Sri Bodhirukkarama Viharaya in Doragala, Gampola, one of six religious sites in the Kandy and Udapalatha areas that were completely destroyed.
At the event, President Dissanayake announced the creation of a new authority to protect and manage the Central Highlands.
The president made the statement while citing several serious environmental risks highlighted in a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.
Additionally, Divaina highlighted, quoting the president, that the new educational reforms for Grade 1 will commence on January 29, while the Grade 6 reforms have been postponed until next year, accompanied by a comprehensive programme of awareness campaigns and parental engagement.
Case against Ranil to be brought again before court today | Attempts to locate Saman Ekanayake, the former secretary of Ranil Wickremesinghe, to be arrested
Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran
The case filed against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe under the Public Property Act is scheduled to be taken up again today (28th) before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.
The case was filed over allegations that government funds were misused during his tenure as President to facilitate a visit to London.
Additionally, papers reported that the Attorney General (AG) has instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest Saman Ekanayake, who served as the Presidential Secretary at the time, as a suspect in connection with the investigation.
Accordingly, Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler, stated that the investigating officers of the CID have commenced the necessary procedure to arrest Ekanayake.
A police team from the CID had also visited Ekanayake’s residence yesterday (27th) to arrest him. However, Wootler stated that he was not at home at that time.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “Do not support strikes based on narrow objectives” — Minister Nalinda Jayatissa – Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. Shiranthi Rajapaksa requests two-week grace period to appear before the CID – Divaina, Aruna, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. Releasing 323 containers: investigations to be concluded within three months – Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Virakesari
4. “Do not fulfil your political agendas through the incident of the police assaulting the priest” – Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini | Christian clergy and nuns gather against police assault; peaceful protest in Negombo – Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakkural
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