DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Iranian gas facility set ablaze in Israeli attack; Iran launches retaliatory strikes on neighbouring countries, including Qatar; regional tensions rise, fuel prices increase | “Sri Lanka will not support any party” – Foreign Minister Vijitha [Herath] announces stance on the Middle East war | “No Arab diplomats at the president’s Iftar event; the government’s double standards have created a serious situation” – MP Mujibur points out in parliament | All-party leaders’ meeting today chaired by the president | Rs. 60 million bribe allegedly given to Mahinda [Rajapaksa]; former SriLankan Airlines CEO testifies; President’s Counsel Arsecularatne alleges his client was intimidated Thinakaran: “The government will never abandon the people, even in times of crisis” – Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath | Regional energy security: The president holds discussion with the emir of Qatar; focus also turned towards the welfare of 150,000 Sri Lankans in Qatar | “No online educational activities on the public holiday on Wednesday” – Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa | “I pray for the creation of a world filled with peace and prosperity” – The president in his Eid-ul-Fitr message | Eid-ul-Fitr tomorrow! |
Thinakkural: “Arab envoys boycotted President Anura’s Iftar event; the Iranian ambassador was also absent” – MP Mujibur Rahman | The US special envoy meets the president as the war continues in the Middle East | In a single night, Iran launches strikes on nine of the world’s wealthiest nations: “Operation Madman” shakes the Middle East | “There is no internal crisis in the country” – Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha | “A climate of fear is resurfacing in the North” – MP Srineshan | “We do not support any party in the Middle East war” – Minister Vijitha Herath Thamilan: Did Mahinda Rajapaksa receive a bribe in the Airbus deal? The CIABOC presents evidence; the Chandrasena faction firmly denies| “If Qatari facilities are attacked again, Iran’s South Pars gas field will be destroyed” – Trump warns Iran | “Sri Lanka remains neutral in the Gulf war” – Minister Vijitha [Herath] announces the government’s position | “QR registrations may increase” – Minister Bimal [Rathnayake] informs parliament | “Let us pray for a world filled with peace” – President Anura’s Eid-ul-Fitr message |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: 22 “Sandasiri” (sic) houses given close to the election to lists of friends provided by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Shiranthi Rajapaksa and the former AG – The CIABOC informs the court Divaina: “Gave Rs. 60 million from the Airbus deal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa; Rs. 20 million also given to former Minister Piyankara Jayaratne” – Kapila Chandrasena provides statement to the CIABOC; “The statement was taken forcibly” – President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne
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Dinamina: “Rs. 60 million given to Mahinda Rajapaksa on three instances from Airbus deal” – Former Sri Lankan Airlines chief says in an affidavit; Rs. 20 million also given to former Minister Piyankara Jayaratne; money given to Mahinda Rajapaksa at Medamulana and Carlton house; investigations into Chamal Rajapaksa’s son Shamindra Rajapaksa and the suspect’s spouse; Kapila Chandrasena remanded until April 2 Aruna: “Sri Lanka is not a fun country”: Sri Lanka plunges to rank 134 in the World Happiness Report; Finland takes first place: Afghanistan is the only Asian country below Sri Lanka – A grading by the University of Oxford Anidda: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who came to eradicate corruption, is protecting a perpetrator of corruption |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
“A fearful situation has resurfaced in the North” – MP Srineshan
Thinakkural
ITAK MP G. Srineshan stated in parliament yesterday (19th) that a climate of fear has resurfaced in the North following the summoning of the Jaffna University Students’ Union president by the Counter Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID). Srineshan further noted that this move has created significant anxiety among both students and the general public.
Commenting further, the MP urged the government to investigate the reasons behind student activities and seek progressive solutions rather than resorting to intimidating measures. Srineshan emphasised the need for the state to address these concerns to prevent further instability in the region.
Civil groups to protest in April over Cyclone Ditwah relief for the Hill Country
Virakesari The Civil Collective for Malaiyaha Reconstruction has announced a massive protest in April, following the government’s perceived failure to address the grievances of Tamil families affected by Cyclone Ditwah. During a special discussion held at the Mahaweli Centre in Colombo yesterday (19th), representatives expressed frustration that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya have not provided a positive response to their requests for a meeting. The coalition highlighted that while reconstruction in other parts of the country is progressing, relief efforts in the plantation sector remain stagnant, leaving hundreds of families languishing in temporary camps, tents, and unsafe buildings. The organisation has formulated a 15-point charter of demands to be submitted to th president, and the coalition also began a public signature campaign yesterday (19th) to bolster support for these demands before the demonstration planned for April. |
Buddhist monks and Sinhala groups protest in Jaffna for rights in the NorthThinakkural
Buddhist monks and members of the Sinhala community held a vehicular parade and peaceful march from Jaffna to Colombo yesterday (19th) to highlight the grievances of the Sinhala people living in the Northern Province. The rally commenced at the Arya Chakravarti Road Naga Vihara in Jaffna and proceeded to the Northern Province Governor’s Secretariat, where a memorandum was handed over. Protesters carrying national and Buddhist flags, along with banners in Sinhala, claimed that consecutive governments over the last 78 years have failed to address the fundamental issues of the Sinhala people in the North. Issues raised included land boundary disputes, resettlement hurdles, a lack of Sinhala-speaking staff in government offices, and the need for better protection of Buddhist heritage sites in the region. |
Jaffna University students protest against continuous intimidation
Thinakkural
Students of the University of Jaffna held a protest yesterday (19th) in front of the university premises to condemn the continuous intimidation of students under the guise of investigations. Following the protest, which began at 10.00 am, the students proceeded to boycott lectures.
The investigation that the students protested against pertained to an incident involving the lowering of the national flag and the hoisting of a black flag within the university premises. The Jaffna District Crimes Division recorded statements on the incident from three students, including the president of the Jaffna University Students’ Union and the president of the Arts Faculty Students’ Union, during a five-hour interrogation session.
The police had previously recorded statements from the vice-chancellor and the university registrar on March 14 regarding the matter.
Authorities stated that further action will be determined based on legal advice from the attorney general (AG).
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: www.worldhappiness.report
“Sri Lanka is not a fun country”: Sri Lanka plunges to rank 134 in the World Happiness Report; Finland takes first place; Afghanistan is the only Asian country below Sri Lanka: A grading by the University of Oxford
Lankadeepa, Aruna, Anidda
The World Happiness Report 2026 has ranked Sri Lanka among the least happy nations. According to the report, Sri Lanka is placed 134th with a score of 4.0, scoring less than the nation’s Asian neighbours such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Afghanistan is reportedly the only Asian country to be ranked below Sri Lanka. The country has been ranked alongside Ethiopia, and has slipped to the 134th position from the 133rd position as ranked in the 2025 report.
Finland tops the rankings as the happiest country, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, and Sweden. The report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre of the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, forms part of the annual global happiness survey.
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“Nationwide operations to find illegal fuel stocks” – Instructions from the IGP Divaina, Dinamina Accordingly, five individuals were arrested across several areas on Wednesday (18th), along with 4,742 liters of diesel and 874 liters of petrol. The fuel stocks were discovered during raids centred in the Western, Eastern, North Central, and Uva provinces. |
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who came to eradicate corruption, is protecting a perpetrator of corruptionAnidda Despite the Colombo High Court issuing a summons ordering Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody to appear before the court on March 27 to be served the indictment after a case was filed against him under the offence of “corruption”, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is continuing to retain him in his ministerial post. Although the president possesses the constitutional power to remove any minister whom he himself has appointed, thus far, President Dissanayake has not taken any steps to remove Jayakody. |
22 ‘Sandasiri’ (sic) houses given close to the election to lists of friends provided by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Shiranthi Rajapaksa and the former AG – The CIABOC informs the court
Lankadeepa
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) stated before the Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday (19th) that 22 houses from the ‘Sirisanda Sevana’ Housing Scheme in Bloemendhal, Colombo, constructed by the Housing Development Authority for poverty-stricken, low-income earning families in Colombo, have been given to political affiliates as per the requests of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, and a former attorney general.
The facts of the incident were presented while producing the suspect, retired Brigadier Ranjith Samarasinghe, who was the director of urban development renewal programmes of the ‘Sirisanda’ housing project, before the court. Samarasinghe was arrested in connection with causing a loss to the government and facilitating another party to earn profit.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily News
Rs. 60 million was given to Mahinda Rajapaksa from the Airbus deal: Rs. 20 million was given to Piyankara Jayaratne — Revelations made by Kapila Chandrasena says the CIABOC
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (19th) that while giving a statement to the commission, former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kapila Chandrasena had declared that Rs. 60 million received as a bribe in the controversial Airbus transaction was handed over to then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The CIABOC further informed the court that, according to the statement by Chandrasena, the sum of Rs. 60 million that he had received was allegedly paid in three instalments to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Medamulana and Carlton houses. He had added that a further sum of Rs. 20 million had been given to former Civil Aviation Minister Piiyankara Jayaratne.
Additionally, it was reported that investigations into Chamal Rajapaksa’s son Shamindra Rajapaksa and Chandrasena’s spouse have also been launched. The newspapers further report that Chandrasena will be placed in remand custody until April 2.
The NCM against the minister of energy handed over; to be taken up on April 10
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari
The opposition submitted a No Confidence Motion (NCM) against Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody to Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (19th). The NCM was signed by 36 MPs including Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa.
The NCM focuses on a number of corruption charges, including the import of substandard coal. Accordingly, the parliament is scheduled to take up the debate on the NCM against Jayakody on April 10.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake meets the US special representative – Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural
2. QR-based fuel distribution: “Registration issues to be fully resolved today; around 5.5 million vehicles registered so far” – Minister Bimal Rathnayake – Aruna, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. Ranil Wickremesinghe returns to the island following surgery in Singapore – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Virakesari
4. Three students in Jaffna questioned for putting up black flags [on Independence Day] – Anidda, Thinakkural
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[/paywall]PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |