DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Death toll continues to rise; 334 killed; 370 people missing; 1,118,929 people remain stranded; The severity of Cyclone Ditwah has subsided; 196,790 people in temporary relief camps; Rescue operations continue | Pictorial: The Angoda area, which has been inundated Thinakaran: Ditwah Cyclone; 334 killed, 370 missing so far; many stranded; Government officials join the tri-forces in the field; 196,790 people housed in 1,494 welfare centres; International aid from countries including the USA, India, Pakistan, and Maldives | “Focus more on restoring normal life” – President instructs officials | Details of bank account numbers have been published to help the people affected by the natural disaster |
Thinakkural: If the Mavil Aru dam fully breaks, an unprecedented disaster will occur; Thousands displaced; Floodwaters over 8 feet | Even though the cyclone has passed and the rain has decreased, massive landslides continue in the hill country; losses continue; rescue teams are unable to immediately access those locations Thamilan: Death toll spikes due to floods, landslides, and cyclone! |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: The mountain came down with a huge echo: An entire village buried in Alawathugoda; 43 missing from 15 families; 15 members of the same family among them; some had escaped by evacuating to relatives’ houses Divaina: Death toll exceeds 212; many others buried under the soil; entire villages buried [due to landslides]; 218 missing; water levels rise in the Kalu and Kelaniya Rivers; one million affected; 150,000 displaced Mawbima: The disaster that Ditwah caused: 334 deaths; 370 missing, one million affected
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Dinamina: The heaviest rainfall in history: Let’s defeat the tears and rise together; Ditwah goes to India; 334 deaths; 370 missing; 1,494 disaster camps, 1.1 million displaced; 309,607 families displaced Aruna: A helicopter that transported food to the displaced crashes; the pilot dies; “An accident that occurred while attempting an emergency landing” – Air Force spokesperson Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
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“Tamil Nadu will stand by to alleviate the suffering of Sri Lankans” – Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
Thinakaran, Thamilan, Virakesari
The Tamil Nadu government has announced that it stands ready to support the people of Sri Lanka who have been severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
In a message, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the natural calamity.
The chief minister stated that, in a proactive measure, a team of officials is being constituted to organise and deliver food and medical supplies to the affected island nation.
This aid will be channelled through the Union Government [Central Government] of India.
The government affirmed its commitment to stand by the affected families until they rise again.
“Child care centres must be reopened” – Minister Savithri PaulrajThinakaran Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj requested that action be taken to reopen day care centres that are in a suitable condition to operate, effective today (1st). She noted that this request was made to facilitate the care of children belonging to public and private sector officials engaged in essential services during the ongoing disaster situation. Consequently, the minister requested the persons in charge of these centres to resume operations in disaster-affected areas where safety has been confirmed. |
Ragging at Jaffna University; 19 students remanded
Thinakaran The police arrested 19 students from the University of Jaffna yesterday (30th) for allegedly ragging 15 other students. When produced before the Jaffna Additional Magistrate, the suspects were ordered to be remanded until Wednesday (3rd). The arrested students, attached to the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, had allegedly taken 15 students from the same faculty to a house outside the university premises on November 21 and assaulted them. The Kopay Police initiated investigations and arrested the suspects following a complaint lodged by the victims. |
Focus more on restoring normal life; President instructs officialsThinakaran, Thinakkural President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to prioritise rescue and relief operations while paying close attention to restoring basic infrastructure to return the lives of the affected people to normalcy. Speaking at a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (30th), the president emphasised the necessity of excellent coordination among all institutions for these efforts. The discussion focused on implementing a rapid programme to restore the transport network, including damaged highways, railway lines, and bridges, as well as drinking water and irrigation systems. Consequently, it was decided to identify all damaged roads, restore railway tracks to resume services, and resolve the challenges arising in these activities. |
“Hospitals face difficulties in providing services” – GMOA
Virakesari The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) stated that government hospitals are facing a severe crisis, making it difficult to provide continuous treatment to patients amidst the prevailing disaster situation. GMOA Media Spokesperson Chamil Wijesinghe noted yesterday (30th) that services at the Mahiyanganaya Base Hospital have stalled, necessitating patient transfers to the Bibile Base Hospital, while communication with hospitals in the Nuwara Eliya District remains cut off. He highlighted that approximately 500 individuals, including patients and staff, are trapped inside the Chilaw General Hospital due to floods, with over 50 mothers and children stranded in the pediatric ward. Wijesinghe added that while districts such as Kandy and Gampaha are severely affected, a medical team in Nuwara Eliya walked 12 km to treat victims in remote areas. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
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The mountain came down with a huge echo: An entire village buried in Alawathugoda
Lankadeepa
A massive landslide in the Rambukeela Mudunekade village in Alawathugoda, Kandy, has left 43 individuals from around 15 families missing, including 15 members from a single family.
The Kandy District Disaster Management Coordination Unit reported that heavy rains caused a large mountain to collapse early on November 29, burying over 15 houses.
Rescue operations led by the army and the police resulted in the recovery of eight bodies by the evening of the 29th, with operations resuming yesterday (30th) morning after being halted due to bad weather.
Visiting the site, Kandy District NPP MP Riyas Farook confirmed that special operations are underway to locate the victims buried under the debris.
Electricity-water-telephone-road networks to be restored swiftlyDinamina, Aruna Operations to restore electricity, telecommunications, water and road networks disrupted by Cyclone Ditwah have commenced, with the government facilitating technical teams and generators to restore communication towers, following a discussion on November 29. Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) General Manager K.S.I. Kumara affirmed that priority is being given to hospitals and water supply stations despite challenges in certain provinces. Furthermore, the Road Development Authority (RDA) has initiated repairs on damaged roads and bridges across the island. Dinamina and Aruna: National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) Chairperson A.M.P.C.T. Bandara stated yesterday (30th) that while the water supply in districts such as Galle and Ratnapura has been fully restored, measures are being taken to restore supply in other affected areas within three days. |
A special operations room established under the IGP’s supervision to report disaster-related emergencies
Dinamina A special operations room has been established at the Police Headquarters under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to coordinate relief efforts and manage information regarding the ongoing adverse weather conditions. Police teams equipped with boats, diving gear and other disaster response equipment have been placed on standby across all police divisions for immediate deployment. The police are also coordinating with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the tri-forces to address public needs while implementing measures to protect the properties of displaced individuals. The public can report emergencies or provide information via the dedicated landlines (011-2013051/2472757), WhatsApp numbers (071-8595880-4) or by emailing Igp.opsroom@police.gov.lk. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Arab News
Ditwah leaves, killing 334 on the way [out]; 370 missing
Aruna, Dinamina, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Severe flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah across Sri Lanka has resulted in 334 deaths and left 370 individuals missing as of yesterday (30th).
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) stated that over 1.1 million people from 25 districts have been affected, with more than 180,000 displaced persons currently housed in over 1,200 safety centres.
While the Gampaha and Colombo districts recorded the highest number of affected persons, the Kandy and Badulla districts reported the highest number of deaths and missing persons.
Director General of the Department of Meteorology Athula Karunanayake confirmed that the cyclone has moved away from the island, although Director General of Irrigation Ajith Gunasekara warned that flood risks persist in the Kelaniya River basin.
Meanwhile, the Road Development Authority (RDA) reported damages to 206 roads and 14 bridges, while the tri-forces continue rescue operations to assist those stranded.
“In this time of disaster, let us put aside all political differences and unite” | “This is the most difficult mission of the era” – The president says while addressing the nation
Aruna, Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Virakesari
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered a special address to the nation last night (30th), following the disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Addressing the public, Dissanayake stated that the country has launched the most challenging rescue operation in its history to combat the recent natural disaster, and urged all citizens to unite beyond political differences.
He announced that a state of emergency has been declared to facilitate efficient relief management and provide legal protection for recovery efforts, assuring that it will not be used for suppression.
The president noted that circulars hindering relief were amended to authorise divisional secretaries to spend up to Rs. 50 million, adding that approximately Rs. 30 billion from the previous budget is available for immediate expenditure without parliamentary approval.
He further expressed his gratitude to friendly nations and international organisations for their immediate support, including the provision of helicopters and relief personnel, during this crisis.
Highlighting the country’s reconstruction as the next step, the president also announced plans to establish a new reconstruction fund, managed jointly by the government and private sector, to rebuild the country into a state even more developed than before.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. A helicopter that transported food to the displaced crashes; the pilot dies; “An accident that occurred while attempting an emergency landing” – Air Force spokesperson – Aruna, Dinamina, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan, Thinakaran
2. Cracks appear in the Mavil Aru reservoir bund – Aruna, Dinamina, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan, Thinakaran
3. The dry ration allowance for the displaced increased; Rs. 2,100 for an individual, Rs. 10,500 for a family – Aruna, Dinamina, Divaina, Thinakaran
4. “The floods to recede slowly from today” – The Irrigation Department | “The floods in Colombo will recede from tomorrow” – The irrigation director general – Aruna, Dinamina, Thinakkural
5. Office of the Commissioner General of Essential Services to be established – The president issues directive – Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
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