DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: ““The Kivul Oya project has no racist motives; do not politicise it” – Government appeal | “Publish the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the Gazette” – Jeevan Thondaman urges Government Thinakaran: “A diplomatic victory for the government: Opportunity to host India-Pakistan matches in Sri Lanka; Government takes full responsibility for the safety of players and fans” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa | ‘A Nation United’ – Nuwara Eliya District event held under the patronage of the president | Ditwah disaster: search operations for the missing called off |
Thinakkural: “Anura’s government, acting to please diaspora groups, has failed; we will achieve a landslide victory if provincial council elections are held” – Namal Rajapaksa | 17-year-old who drove the van killed, two arrested after police open fire on van in Jaffna Thamilan: ‘A Nation United’ – Nuwara Eliya District event held under the patronage of the president | Pakistan gives the green light to play against India; heavy security in Sri Lanka | SLTDA withdraws LGBTQ tourism promotion announcement; disclosure made in the Court of Appeal |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Rs. 12.7 million used from a Chinese loan to pay the lease of the former NWSDB chairperson’s luxury vehicle; CIABOC informs the court that the vehicle is missing as well; an NWSDB official and two others remanded Divaina: The India-Pakistan cricket clash that the whole world is waiting for to be held this Sunday in Sri Lanka | “The Trincomalee Buddhist monks were beaten up while attempting to install a Buddha statue, and not because they committed a crime. This is a grave crime against the Sasana (Buddhist order). The government should intervene immediately to set these 10 individuals free” – A letter to the president from Ven. Ittapana Dhammalankara Mahanayake Thera Mawbima: “A major reshuffle soon in the top positions of government institutions” – Minister Nalinda [Jayatissa] hints | Will take stern action if the CEB is liquidated without fulfilling demands – 24 CEB trade unions warnr
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Dinamina: Sri Lanka climbs up the global index [Corruption Perceptions Index] as a country with less corruption; surpasses 14 countries in a single year Aruna: The Mahanayakes oppose the Trincomalee incident Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
“Do not politicise the Kivul Oya project for votes; Let it proceed” – Nalinda Jayatissa
Thinakkural, Virakesari
Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Kivul Oya development project is intended to resolve water and irrigation issues for residents in the Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts, rather than being driven by ethnic motives.
Addressing the media at the Department of Government Information yesterday (10th), he noted that the project was originally approved in September 2011 with an estimated cost of Rs. 4,170 million, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.
The government now plans to implement the project between 2026 and 2031 using national funds, with the estimated cost having increased sixfold to Rs. 23,456 million.
Jayatissa urged political parties not to politicise the initiative for electoral gain, affirming that the Mahaweli (L) zone project aims to serve all communities in the region.
“Settlements will not be established in the Kivul Oya project; Tamils fear due to past experiences” – Deputy Minister Upali Samarasinghe
Thinakaran Deputy Minister Upali Samarasinghe stated that the Kivul Oya project does not include plans to establish new settlements for people from other districts and confirmed that Tamil people will be integrated into the scheme. Speaking at a press briefing to explain the government’s upcoming actions regarding the project, he noted that although the plan was initiated in 2007, previous administrations failed to move it forward due to a lack of proper funding. Samarasinghe acknowledged that Tamil communities harbour fears of state-sponsored settlements based on historical precedents from 1983; however, he clarified that many previous settlers in Mullaitivu and Vavuniya had to leave due to a lack of water for their livelihoods. He emphasised that the current project aims to support the existing agricultural needs of both Tamil farmers in areas like Maritimepattu and Vavuniya North, and Sinhala farmers in areas such as Janakapura. The government expects to implement the Kivul Oya project by ensuring the inclusion of the Tamil people to secure their livelihoods. |
“No new law to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be introduced before the upcoming Geneva session” – Harshana NanayakkaraThinakkural
Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara stated that a new law will not be introduced to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) prior to the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). In a special interview, he noted that the government is currently seeking public and expert opinion on repealing the PTA and drafting replacement legislation. The deadline for submitting these views is February 29, after which time will be required to review the recommendations and amend the proposed bill. Although the UNHRC session is scheduled to begin on the 23rd, experts suggest it is unlikely that Sri Lanka will be able to present any concrete progress regarding the repeal of the PTA during this period. |
“We will reapply for the GSP plus tax concession” – Minister Vijitha announces to EU representatives
Thamilan, Virakesari Thamilan: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath expressed Sri Lanka’s intention to reapply for the European Union’s (EU) GSP Plus trade concession. He stated this during a meeting yesterday (10th) with a delegation led by European External Action Service (EEAS) Acting Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific Paola Pampaloni. The minister briefed the delegation on economic progress and legislative reforms, including the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and amendments to the Online Safety Act. Thamilan, Virakesari: Furthermore, the 27th session of the Sri Lanka-EU Joint Commission is scheduled to be held tomorrow (12th) in Colombo. The commission will be co-chaired by Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Wijewardane and Paola Pampaloni to review partnerships in governance, human rights, and trade. |
“Publish the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the Gazette” – Jeevan Thondaman urges governmentVirakesari CWC General Secretary MP Jeevan Thondaman urged the government to publish the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) as a gazette notification. He raised concerns that the MoU, which has not been made public, contains a clause preventing legal action against any party if the agreed-upon terms are not met. Thondaman highlighted a specific provision requiring workers to complete 180 days of service annually for gratuity calculations, questioning whether companies would provide sufficient workdays to meet this requirement. He further noted that the traditional tripartite agreements involving trade unions have been bypassed, potentially leaving workers without legal recourse for salary increments. Consequently, he insisted that a minimum basic salary of Rs. 1,550 must be officially gazetted to ensure future transparency and worker protection. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
The verdict of the Amarakeerthi Athukorala murder case [to be delivered] today
Aruna, Dinamina, Lankadeepa
The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar is scheduled to deliver its verdict today (11th) in the case involving the murder of former Polonnaruwa District MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer.
The judgment will be delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Judges Sahan Mapa Bandara, Rashmi Singappuli, and Rasantha Godawela.
The double murder occurred on May 9, 2022, in Nittambuwa during the Aragalaya (struggle) protests.
The MP and his security officer were travelling home after attending a meeting at Temple Trees when they were mobbed and beaten to death by a group of protesters.
The request of the police against the fisherfolk’s protest tossed outAruna, Divaina, Mawbima Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara yesterday (10th) rejected a request by the Fort Police to issue an order preventing a protest by fisherfolk near the Presidential Secretariat. The fisherfolk have been conducting a protest demanding that the government lift the ban on using tractor-mounted winch machines for madel (seine) fishing activities. In his ruling, the magistrate emphasised that the public has a constitutional right to engage in peaceful demonstrations and that the court would not obstruct this right. |
Sri Lanka climbs up the global index [Corruption Perceptions Index] as a country with less corruption; surpasses 14 countries in a single yearDinamina Sri Lanka has demonstrated a notable improvement in its global standing, rising to 107th place out of 181 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International. Scoring 35 out of 100, the country climbed 14 positions from its 2024 ranking of 121st, which Transparency International noted as the most significant leap for Sri Lanka in recent years. This recovery follows a historic low in 2024, when the country was ranked among the bottom third of the world’s most corrupt nations. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
The India-Pakistan cricket match confirmed following President Anura’s request | The India-Pakistan [cricket] clash confirmed following diplomatic discussions
Aruna, Dinamina, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Thamilan, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
Following the direct intervention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Pakistani government on Tuesday (9th) granted permission for its national cricket team to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup match against India.
The match is scheduled to be held at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 15 (Sunday).
Pakistan had previously considered boycotting the fixture following a dispute with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the replacement of Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament.
President Dissanayake secured the agreement during a friendly telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In addition to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s direct intervention, the Pakistani government stated that it considered requests made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other members of the ICC before granting the team permission to play.
The Pakistani government and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the decision yesterday (10th), narrowly avoiding a potential loss of USD 174 million for the ICC.
“The Trincomalee Buddhist monks were beaten up while attempting to install a Buddha statue and not because they committed a crime” – Most Ven. Dr Ittapana Dhammalankara Mahanayake Thera writes to the president
Aruna, Divaina, Mawbima, Virakesari
Chief Prelate of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha of the Siyam Maha Nikaya, Most Ven. Dr Ittapana Dhammalankara Mahanayake Thera has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging the immediate release of 10 individuals, including Buddhist monks, currently in detention.
The group was arrested following a dispute over the installation of a Buddha statue at the Bodhirajaramaya temple in Trincomalee in November 2025.
In a letter to the president, the Mahanayake Thera described the charges as a “great crime” against the Buddhist order, asserting that the monks were acting within their legal religious rights.
The Mahanayake Thera alleged that the only objections related to the incident came from a member of the Tamil diaspora and a government MP, rather than the general public.
Furthermore, he clarified that the construction was not a new installation but a replacement for a structure destroyed during the tsunami.
Divaina and Mawbima report that responding to the Mahanayake Thera’s request, Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa stated yesterday (10th) that the government will not interfere in the legal proceedings regarding the installation of a Buddha statue in Trincomalee.
The minister noted that the judiciary will handle the matter within its jurisdiction based on the evidence presented by both parties.
Aruna and Mawbima report that the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asigiriya chapters have also expressed their displeasure with the arrests.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. The letter issued by the SLTDA chairperson on an LGBTQ tourism initiative to be withdrawn – The attorney general informs the Court of Appeal – Aruna, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Thamilan, Virakesari
2. SIM cards purchased before 2019 to be registered | New regulations introduced on registering SIM cards – The cabinet approves the president’s proposal – Aruna, Divaina, Mawbima, Thinakaran
3. The police open fire on a van that defied orders to stop; a young man killed – Aruna, Thinakkural, Virakesari
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