DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Kivul Oya project a danger to Tamils; Ravikaran and Sathiyalingam highlight at clarification meeting: express grief over Mahaweli causing ‘deadly pain’ to Tamil people | 10 people, including monks, further remanded; AG given time to file objections in High Court Thinakaran: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage |
Thinakkural: “Review the Kivul Oya project that seizes Tamil lands, or we won’t allow its implementation” – MP Sathiyalingam issues stern warning in Manalaru | “Government attempting to hide the mastermind behind Easter Sunday attacks” – Mujibur Rahman | “Did the government secretly survey the people’s stance? the government’s vote bank has dropped below 25%” – Gammanpila Thamilan: e-Visa agreement under reconsideration! AG informs Supreme Court of government’s decision | Trincomalee Buddha statue issue: 4 monks remanded |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: To be reviewed by a special committee: Protection of Occupants Bill reversed; AG informs the SC: five petitions withdrawn Divaina: “Cannot silence the voices of the Buddhists” – Ven. Kassapa Thera: the 10 individuals, including the monks from Trincomalee who have been in remand custody for 26 days, further remanded | Families of seine fisherfolk also join hunger strike; “Cannot say anything for certain until the court verdict is given” — Deputy Minister of Fisheries Mawbima: Minister Bimal Rathnayake halts the multi-transportation project in Galle, Dewata: the urban planning is not strategic | ”A government decision to reconsider the bill” – AG tells the SC; one month period given for citizens to provide feedback on the Rent Bill [Protection of Occupants Bill]
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Dinamina: “Bus permits to be cancelled if driver or conductor is found to be on drugs” – Minister Bimal Rathnayake issues red alert to bus owners Aruna: “Rent Housing Bill [Protection of Occupants Bill] to be amended” – AG informs the SC Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
Kivul Oya project a danger to Tamils; Ravikaran and Sathiyalingam highlight at clarification meeting: express grief over Mahaweli causing ‘deadly pain’ to Tamil people
Thinakkural, Virakesari
Vanni District ITAK MPs P. Sathiyalingam and T. Ravikaran stated that the Kivul Oya project must be immediately reviewed and discussed with local representatives, as it threatens the ancestral existence and livelihoods of the Tamil people.
Speaking at a meeting chaired by Deputy Minister Upali Samarasinghe at the Mahaweli Authority office in Weli Oya, the MPs warned they would not support the project’s implementation until a policy-level agreement is reached.
They noted that the project, originally proposed during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure to benefit Sinhala settlements, would submerge 513 acres of agricultural land and ancient tanks in the Vedivaithakal and Maruthodai villages.
The MPs further questioned why Tamil farmer organisations were excluded from the meeting and criticised plans to settle 1,628 families in the area, asserting that Mahaweli projects have historically caused “deadly pain” to the Tamil community.
Thinakkural reports Sathiyalingam’s statements only.
Chemmani mass grave: Decision on 3rd phase excavation in March
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan Operations to drain rainwater from the Chemmani mass grave were conducted yesterday (9th) with the assistance of the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha. During the first two phases of the investigation, 240 human skeletal remains were identified, of which 239 have been fully excavated. Although funds have been allocated for the third phase, heavy rainfall since November [2025] has left the site waterlogged and muddy. Jaffna Magistrate S. Lenin Kumar and Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Selliah Pranavan inspected the site yesterday to oversee the dewatering process. A decision regarding the commencement of further excavations is expected on March 16, 2026, when the case is next called in court. |
The Swiss effort to unite Tamil political parties has been suspended; Those who had been invited to the discussion have now been notified of this decisionThinakkural, Virakesari
The meeting of Tamil nationalist political parties, scheduled for 19 February 2026 under the auspices of the Swiss Embassy, is currently in a state of uncertainty and may be postponed. Organised to bring Tamil factions to a consensus on a political solution to the ethnic issue, the meeting was set to include representatives from the ITAK, ACTC, and the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA). Virakesari highlights that the friction arises from a separate civil society meeting organised by the Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam-led ACTC for 15 February 2026, aimed at establishing a unified Tamil position prior to the Swiss-mediated talks. ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran reportedly expressed concerns to the Swiss Ambassador regarding the purpose of this earlier meeting and requested that the 19 February session be cancelled. Additionally, Suresh Premachandran of the DTNA noted that while they wish for parties to meet before engaging civil society, a postponement of the Embassy-led talks now appears likely. |
e-Visa agreement under reconsideration! AG informs Supreme Court of government’s decision
Thamilan
The Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs has decided to review the legality of contracts entered into by the previous government to outsource e-visa processing to private companies.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Viveka Siriwardena, appearing for the Attorney General (AG), informed the Supreme Court yesterday (9th) that discussions regarding this review are currently underway.
The announcement was made during the hearing of fundamental rights petitions filed by President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, Rauff Hakeem MP, and former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka challenging the controversial cabinet decision.
Counsel for the petitioners argued that the outsourcing caused significant economic loss to the country and urged that any future e-visa processes must follow a transparent public tendering system.
Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, heading a three-judge bench, granted the state time to report on the progress of the review and scheduled the next hearing for March 25, 2026.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newsfirst
23 mortar bombs found on a land in Kalutara
Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Aruna
Kalutara South Police stated that 23 mortar bombs used for dropping from aircraft were found on a land in Kalutara yesterday (9th).
The stock of mortar bombs was discovered while a foundation for a building was being dug on a land located at Parakum Mawatha, Central Junction, Kalutara.
Yesterday (9th), a worker employed there recovered three mortar bombs while digging said foundation.
Subsequently, police security was deployed to the location, and suspecting that more mortar bombs were present, Special Task Force (STF) personnel were summoned to inspect the area, leading to the discovery of another 20 mortar bombs.
The 23 discovered mortar bombs were taken to the Kalutara Katukurunda STF camp for further investigations.
“The total export income for the year 2025 recorded as Rs. 6,194 billion” – CBSLDinamina The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) states that Sri Lanka’s total export income for the year 2025 was Rs. 6,194 billion (USD 20,647.1 million). Accordingly, an income of USD 13,581.4 million has been earned from merchandise exports, while service export income was USD 7,065.7 million, as indicated by a new report released by the CBSL. |
“Bus permits to be cancelled if driver or conductor is found to be on drugs” – Minister Bimal Rathnayake issues red alert to bus ownersDinamina Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake stated that if it is revealed during emergency drug tests being conducted these days that a driver is operating a bus while using drugs or that a conductor has used drugs, the permit of the bus owner will be cancelled. Therefore, Rathnayake informed bus owners not to employ drug-addicted drivers under any circumstances and further stated that no consideration whatsoever will be given to re-issuing permits cancelled in such a manner. |
“Many who distanced themselves from us are returning” – National Organiser of the SLPP, MP Namal Rajapaksa
Dinamina
National Organiser of the SLPP and MP Namal Rajapaksa stated that many people who had left are reuniting with the party.
Rajapaksa expressed these views while speaking to the media following a discussion held at the SLPP headquarters.
He added that they are currently strengthening the party at the village level, and many who had distanced themselves from them are now joining them.
Rajapaksa added that a large number of people have decided to join them in the future while placing trust in their political force.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: AsianMirror
To be reviewed by a special committee: Protection of Occupants Bill reversed; AG informs the SC: five petitions withdrawn
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The government is set to review the Protection of Occupants Bill following a notification to the Supreme Court (SC) by the Attorney General (AG) yesterday (9th).
Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, representing the AG, stated that the government intends to submit an amended version of the bill once essential revisions are included.
The announcement was made when the court considered six petitions challenging the proposed Bill.
Dharmawardena also stated that the Minister of Justice has established a one-month period beginning February 3 for citizens to provide feedback and proposals concerning the draft.
A specialised committee consisting of experts from the Ministry of Justice, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), and the Attorney General’s Department will subsequently review the input provided by the public.
Group including Ven. Kassapa Thera further remanded: verdict on bail applications to be given tomorrow
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Four Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and six other individuals, were further remanded until 11 February by the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court.
The individuals were arrested in connection with the incident of placing a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Vihara on November 16, 2025, in violation of coastal conservation laws.
Trincomalee High Court Judge N.M.M. Abdulla, who considered the bail applications yesterday (9th) regarding the ten individuals currently in remand custody, including four monks, postponed the verdict on the ten bail applications until tomorrow (11th).
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Discussions unsuccessful, hunger strike of seine (winch net) fisherfolk to continue | Families of seine fisherfolk also join hunger strike – Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Thamilan
2. “The voter percentage of the government has decreased to 25%; that is why the provincial council elections are not being held” – Gammanpila – Mawbima, Aruna, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. “Cannot say anything for certain until the court verdict is given” — Deputy Minister of Fisheries – Divaina, Thamilan
4. Case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest to be taken up on April 24 – Dinamina, Thamilan
5. Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appear before the CIABOC on February 13 – Dinamina, Thinakkural
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