2 February 2026 | Vol. 12, #20

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: “Opposition to approach courts regarding provincial council elections; MP Dayasiri Jayasekara demands the prime minister’s amendment report | Namal and Shiranthi summoned tomorrow | State of emergency extended

Thinakaran: Indian budget allocates [INR] 4 billion for Sri Lanka: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman | Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day celebrations; rehearsals at Independence Square conclude today; [celebrations] to be held the day after tomorrow | State of emergency extended further | Price revision for selected fuel types

Thinakkural: “Government acting against the Tamil people; the unitary state destroys the existence of the Tamil nation. The 4th declared a day of mourning; all people must participate in the protests” – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam | Protest today against Kivul Oya project; commences this morning in Nedunkerny | Continuous protest against Tissa Vihara persists amidst heavy rain; police turn away three youths

Thamilan: The India–Europe trade agreement poses challenges to garment exports | “Massive protest in Vavuniya today against the Kivul Oya project!” | Is Gotabaya Rajapaksa embracing monastic life? | Earthquake in Mullaitivu

Lankadeepa: Coal to be procured outside the tender process to prevent an electricity crisis; cabinet approval given | Permits granted five years ago: yet 25,000 government higher-ups still without vehicles; their concerns raised with ministers as well

Divaina: Who will be the new auditor general? Signs of crisis resolution tomorrow | Former police constable sentenced to death for killing girlfriend after marriage fell through over horoscope mismatch 

Mawbima: PC who murdered his constable girlfriend on Fort flyover sentenced to death | Financial crisis worsens; Fears of UN fracture; Secretary-General warns member states

Dinamina: Indian budget allocates INR 4 billion for Sri Lanka; 10 more Bailey bridges to be given

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

Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

Government acting against the Tamil people; the unitary state destroys the existence of the Tamil nation. The 4th declared a day of mourning; all people must participate in the protests – Gajendrakumar

Thinakkural

ACTC MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam called on the public to participate in the “black day” protests scheduled for February 4 across the North and East to mark Sri Lanka’s Independence Day.

Speaking during a protest against the Tissa Vihara in Thaiyiddy yesterday (1st), he stated that his party fully supports the demonstrations organised by university students and the relatives of the disappeared in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa.

Ponnambalam asserted that the current government “continues to act against the Tamil people in a racist manner, similar to previous administrations.”

He emphasised the need to reject the unitary state system and continue the struggle until a federal solution recognising the Tamil nation is achieved.

Protest in Nedunkerny against the revival of the Kivul Oya project

Thinakkural, Thamilan

A mass protest was held in Nedunkerny today (2nd) against the Kivul Oya project, with the participation of Tamil political parties including ITAK, DTNA, and TELO.

The demonstration commenced at 10:00 a.m. at the Nedunkerny bus stand and proceeded to the Divisional Secretariat, where a memorandum was handed over demanding that the government abandon the initiative.

Originally proposed in 2011 and recently revived with an estimated cost of Rs. 23,500 million, the project is viewed by protesters as an attempt to grab traditional Tamil lands to facilitate Sinhala settlements in the Mahaweli L Zone.

Civil society groups highlighted that the project would cause large-scale deforestation and destroy farmlands and archaeological sites in the Vavuniya North region.

They further asserted that the project offers no benefit to the local Tamil population and threatens their demographic existence and livelihoods.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

15 services, including health and electricity, declared essential

Dinamina, Mawbima

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially declared 15 services—such as healthcare, electricity, and fuel distribution—as essential through a special gazette notification, effective from January 28.

Coal to be procured outside of the tender process to avert an electricity crisis; cabinet approval granted

Lankadeepa, Divaina

The cabinet has approved the emergency procurement of coal for the Lakvijaya Power Plant to prevent a potential energy crisis.

This decision follows reports that 60,000 tonnes of coal imported from South Africa failed quality standard tests.

Government sources noted that sufficient stocks must be secured before the monsoon rains begin in May to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.

While the first shipment faced a penalty of USD 2 million, the government has also decided to call for a new tender to ensure continuous long-term supplies.

However, allegations of corruption have surfaced regarding the tender process, with claims that the conditions of the tender were altered to benefit an Indian agent.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS