DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Do not interfere with the investigations; no one is above the law; no political explanation is needed for the arrest; allow the investigation to proceed; do not link the Tigers to political motives” – The Archbishop’s House makes a public request on the arrest of Suresh Sallay | “The opposition parties are frightened; the law is being properly implemented” – Minister Samantha Vidyarathna Thinakaran: “Criticising arrests interferes with the Easter Sunday attack investigations; the victims are dissatisfied with false criticisms; cooperate until the court verdict is delivered” – Media Spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Colombo Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini states | Flag Hoisting of the St. Anthony’s Church Festival in Katchatheevu! |
Thinakkural: “If Sallay was connected to the Easter Sunday attacks, what was the power behind him? This was not something Zahran’s group did alone; the truth must be revealed” – Former Minister Rajitha | Detailed investigation on Sallay! Computers, mobile phones, and email data being scrutinised | “Sallay’s arrest is only to deceive the Catholic Church and the victims” – Sarath Weerasekera Thamilan: Shocking information revealed by the FBI regarding the Easter Sunday attacks! | “Do not interfere with the Easter Sunday attack investigation!” – The Catholic Church urges | The court dismisses petitions against the State of Emergency declared by the president, ruling no human rights violations! |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: 26 underworld figures have fled the country: The CID ordered to investigate, apprehend and produce the individuals in court | Sallay was arrested over five allegations — A source from the Police HQ Divaina: Podi Lassi, who was apprehended in India, to be brought back today | Two petitions filed following Ditwah emergency regulations, dismissed Mawbima: The Ditwah compensation programme crippled: 16,000 disaster relief officers on strike | Fundamental Rights have not been violated with the enforcement of emergency regulations following Ditwah; both petitions against the president, dismissed
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Dinamina: “Easter Sunday attack investigations are independent; do not obstruct the CID” – Spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Colombo Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Aruna: Fundamental Rights petitions against the state of emergency imposed after Cyclone Ditwah, dismissed Anidda: Suresh Sallay arrested without notifying the defence heads of the government; the war heroes [military leadership] of the government alarmed |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
Professor Velnampy appointed as the new vice chancellor of the University of Jaffna!
Virakesari, Thamilan, Thinakkural
In accordance with the powers vested in him by the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Senior Prof. Thirunavukkarasu Velnampy as the new vice chancellor of the University of Jaffna.
Prof. Velnampy, who currently serves as the dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, secured the highest number of points at the university council’s election for the post. His three-year term is scheduled to begin on March 25, 2026, following the completion of the current vice chancellor’s tenure on March 24.
“Reconciliation activities only through internal mechanisms” – Sri Lanka reiterates at the UNHRC
Virakesari Addressing the 61st session of the UNHRC in Geneva on Wednesday (25th), Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Sumith Dassanayake reaffirmed the government’s commitment to national unity and reconciliation through internal mechanisms. Dassanayake noted that existing structures, including the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and the Office for Reparations, have been strengthened with adequate resources, while discussions are underway to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The permanent representative also highlighted that a public consultation process is ongoing for the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, and measures such as the incorporation of these public proposals will pave the way for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). |
“A major crisis for farmers; the army must leave immediately” – MP RavikaranThinakkural
ITAK MP T. Ravikaran has called for the immediate withdrawal of military personnel from the North and East, accusing the army of disrupting the livelihoods of Tamil farmers. The MP alleged that on September 24, military personnel forcibly entered a Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) warehouse in Neeravipitty, Mullaitivu, to sell over 70 sacks of paddy harvested from occupied Tamil lands. This incident occurred while local farmers were reportedly facing significant difficulties in marketing their own produce through the board. Ravikaran condemned these actions as “aggressive,” stating that the military’s involvement in agriculture on encroached lands directly impacts the economic stability of local residents. |
“If Sallay was connected to the Easter Sunday attacks, what was the power behind him?” – Former Minister Rajitha
Thinakkural Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne stated that if Suresh Sallay, the former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), is linked to the Easter Sunday attacks, the “hidden power” operating behind him must be identified. Speaking to reporters in Colombo on Thursday (26th), Senaratne expressed suspicion that the attacks were not carried out by Zahran Hashim’s group alone but were guided by an external force. While acknowledging the arrest of Sallay, Senaratne emphasised that the investigation must not be a mere exhibition and should instead uncover the true motives and masterminds involved. |
Shocking information revealed by the FBI regarding the Easter Sunday attacks!Thamilan A comprehensive investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed Zahran Mohamed Hashim as the primary mastermind and planner of the April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday attacks. According to a 70-page affidavit filed in December 2020 by FBI Special Agent Marylee R. Goodwin, Hashim led a local cell titled “ISIS in Sri Lanka” with the formal approval of the global ISIS leadership. The FBI identified key collaborators, including Mohamed Naufar, who managed recruitment and propaganda, Mohamed Riskan, who facilitated bomb production, and Ahamed Milhan, a weapons trainer linked to the prior murder of two police officers. The report, which identifies eight specific suicide bombers across targets including the Shangri-La Hotel and St. Sebastian’s Church, concludes that the tragedy was a coordinated international terrorist plot rather than an isolated local incident. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
The SJB lodges a complaint before the CIABOC concerning substandard coal
Mawbima, Aruna
The SJB has lodged a complaint before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), calling for an inquiry into Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody and the cabinet of ministers. The complaint concerns decision-making related to the import of substandard coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant, which reportedly caused a loss of nearly Rs. 7,700 million to the government.
Suresh Sallay arrested without notifying the defence heads of the government; the war heroes [military leadership] of the government alarmedAnidda Anidda reports that the military leadership of the government had not been informed of the arrest of the former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay, before he was arrested. The newspaper added that the officials had only been informed following Sallay’s arrest. This had reportedly caused panic among the said officials, rendering the president, the minister of public security, the deputy minister of public security, and several others helpless. Anidda further noted that the heads of the Tri-Forces Collective have also been struck by panic following the arrest. |
24 banned pyramid schemes that drain public money – An announcement by the CBSLDinamina, Aruna The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has identified 24 organisations engaging in illegal and fraudulent pyramid schemes that exploit public funds. While 23 such entities had been previously flagged, the Financial Consumer Relations Department (FCRD) noted that an additional organisation was identified on Wednesday (25th). This newly identified entity is I.C.A.N. Advertising (Pvt) Ltd, along with its affiliated websites: icanonlineadvertising.com, bannercuts.com, bannercuts.lk, bannercuts.net, and bannercuts.org. The department confirmed these platforms are involved in operating and promoting prohibited pyramid investment schemes. |
The SJB lodges a complaint before the CIABOC concerning substandard coal
Divaina, Mawbima
Starting from next Monday (March 2), the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to halt participation in the Arogya Clinics. The move follows ongoing trade union actions aimed at securing resolutions for grievances faced by medical professionals. Accordingly, the decision to withdraw from these clinics was officially made by the association’s leadership on Wednesday (25th).
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
“The Easter Sunday attack investigations are independent; do not obstruct the CID” – Spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Colombo Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
During a special media briefing held in Colombo yesterday (26th), Director of Communications of the Archdiocese of Colombo Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando called on all parties to refrain from obstructing the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. Rev. Fr. Fernando emphasised that interfering with the probes would constitute a severe injustice toward those affected.
Fundamental Rights have not been violated with the enforcement of emergency regulations following Ditwah; both petitions against the president, dismissed
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has dismissed two Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions challenging the declaration of a State of Public Emergency following Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025.
The petitions alleged that the declaration of emergency issued by the president in the wake of the cyclone violated fundamental rights. The Supreme Court dismissed the petitions yesterday (26th) without taking them up for hearing, stating that fundamental rights had not been violated in this instance.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. A CID team departs for India to repatriate Podi Lassi – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran
2. “Sallay was arrested only to deceive the Catholic community” – Sarath Weerasekera – Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. The ‘Himikama’ freehold deeds national programme to be held in Anuradhapura under the patronage of the president – Divaina, Dinamina, Anidda, Thinakaran
4. The Katchatheevu festival [the feast at St. Anthony’s Church in Katchatheevu] to be held today and tomorrow – Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
5. An individual requires a minimum of Rs. 16,730 per month to meet basic needs: needs Rs 18,000 if in Colombo – The Department of Census and Statistics – Divaina, Thamilan
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