DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Suresh Sallay facilitated the Easter Sunday Attacks, reveals Minister Ananda Wijepala; Pillayan reportedly discloses vital information | MP Shanakiyan expresses doubts about Sarah Jasmine | The debate on the no-confidence motion today | The doctors’ 48-hour strike brings health services to a standstill again | The joint opposition fully supports the no-confidence motion | Opposition MPs announce legal action against the minister [Kumara Jayakody] over substandard coal | Minister Nalinda announces that no negotiations would be held with the government medical officials Thinakaran: “No room for negotiations with the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), which is engaging in an unfair strike” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa | Modernisation of the Fort Railway Station launched by the PM | “Be neutral in Friday sermons” – Instructions from the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs |
Thinakkural: “The plot for the Easter Sunday Attacks had been active since 2017; vital information revealed by Pillayan; Zahran was deliberately protected by diverting blame to the LTTE” – Minister Ananda Wijepala | Muslims targeted since 2012; Suresh Sallay arrested with concrete evidence | Trump issues new warning: “The next attack must be powerful” – The US president escalates rhetoric despite fragile two-week ceasefire | Tamil parties agree to propose a common solution; a decision reached at the Tamil Lawyers’ Forum meeting | The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed despite ceasefire; ships wait in uncertainty Thamilan: The Easter Sunday Attacks: Sallay remained silent despite prior knowledge; Minister Wijepala levels explosive allegations | Further extension of the state of emergency | The doctors’ protest will continue due to the government’s decision | “A group attempting to divert the investigation on the Easter Sunday Attacks” – MP Shanakiyan expresses suspicion |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: An IMF revelation: Substandard coal is also a reason for the increase in the electricity bill; two conditions for loan approval; foreign reserves have exceeded Rs. 7 billion; the IMF also turns its attention to the NDB scam Divaina: Lebanon engulfed in flames with the wrath of Israel, violating the two-week ceasefire: A series of attacks within 10 minutes killing 250; a day of mourning in Lebanon; Hezbollah launches rocket attacks in response; a two-day holiday in Pakistan for the Islamabad discussions; an Al Jazeera journalist killed in the Israeli attacks
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Dinamina: The Israeli military destroys Lebanon during the ceasefire: 100 locations attacked in 10 minutes: 254 killed; the Strait of Hormuz closed Aruna: Student meals in crisis if the government’s Rs. 110 is not increased; “Cannot provide meals unless the amount is increased” – The Sri Lanka Food Processors Association Anidda: The president protecting the energy minister despite objections from within the NPP and external [groups] |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: jaffnagallery.lk
An expert committee appointed to draft a constitutional proposal for the ethnic issue
Virakesari, Thinakkural
Tamil nationalist political parties have reached a consensus to appoint a committee of experts to draft a document outlining the fundamental features for a solution to the Tamil ethnic issue within a new constitutional framework.
During a meeting organised by the Tamil Lawyers’ Forum yesterday (9th), representatives from ITAK, the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, and the Tamil National People’s Front agreed to nominate a panel for the task, including Senior President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Isvaran and Professors V.T. Thamilmaran, N. Selvakkumaran, and M. Sornarajah.
It was also decided that each political party would nominate one representative to the committee to ensure broad participation, with a specific focus on including representation from the Eastern Province.
The proposed document emphasises that the Tamil people are a national ethnic group with the right to self-determination and advocates for a federal structure with clearly defined, irrevocable state powers.
Minister Chandrasekar warns against racism being incited for political survival
Thinakaran Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar asserted in parliament yesterday (9th) that political survival can no longer be sustained by inciting racism among the Tamil people. Speaking during a debate on military regulations and emergency laws, the minister claimed that an MP representing the Batticaloa District has been misusing parliamentary privileges to promote divisive rhetoric. He argued that, however, the current socio-political landscape of the North and East has fundamentally changed since the end of the war, moving away from the conditions that initially triggered the conflict. |
MP Shanakiyan suspects attempts are being made to divert the Easter Sunday Attack investigationsThamilan, Virakesari
ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam expressed suspicion in parliament yesterday (9th) that a group within the police is attempting to mislead or divert the investigations on the Easter Sunday Attacks. While commending the government’s efforts, specifically the arrest of individuals such as Suresh Sallay, the MP highlighted concerns regarding the disappearance of key witnesses, noting that a person named Ismail Ishaq reportedly fled to Saudi Arabia on September 4. The MP also raised serious doubts regarding Sarah Jasmine, noting that her mother claims a third DNA test was never conducted, which raises questions about the validity of previous results. He urged the government to investigate information from two earlier documentaries in addition to the recent Channel 4 exposé. |
MP Mujibur Rahman alleges attempts are being made to link him to Zahran based on religion
Thinakkural
SJB MP Mujibur Rahman stated in parliament yesterday (9th) that attempts are being made to link him to Zahran Hashim, the leader of the Easter Sunday Attacks, simply because he is Muslim.
Speaking during the adjournment debate on the 2019 bombings, Rahman asserted that he is not alone in suspecting that influential figures operated behind Zahran, a sentiment previously echoed by various politicians and officials.
The MP emphasised that the Muslim community faced severe backlash and cultural restrictions following the attacks and vowed that he would not allow the investigation to be covered up through intimidation.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
“Even though we had 32,000 tanks back then, we are only left with 14,000 now, we have to at least protect them” – The president at the National Aluth Sahal Mangallaya [New Rice Festival]
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina
The 59th Aluth Sahal Mangallaya or the National New Rice Festival was held yesterday (9th) at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Speaking at the event, President Dissanayake stressed that agriculture is a major part of the nation’s cultural heritage. He noted that the New Rice Festival is a pinnacle of this heritage, strengthening the country’s identity and preserving its cultural traditions.
The president added that sustainable development was necessary, pointing to traditional irrigation networks as a key model. Dissanayake observed that many of these structures have deteriorated over the years and announced the government’s commitment to restoring small and medium-scale tank systems. He added that although the kings of the past had built around 32,000 tanks back then, only 14,000 remain, and noted that it is the responsibility of the government to protect them.
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“200,000 micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) have ceased operations between 2018 and 2022” – Minister Anil Jayantha states in parliament Dinamina Further expressing his views, Jayantha noted that 108,000 micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises closed in the face of the economic crisis. He added that another 155,000 establishments also closed due to other reasons. |
The president protecting the energy minister despite objections from within the NPP and external [groups]Anidda Anidda reports that many are baffled as to why President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has not yet taken steps to remove Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody from the position of energy minister, despite Jayakody being served with indictments by the Colombo High Court regarding corruption charges filed under Section 70 of the Bribery Act. The newspaper further reports that objections regarding the issue have been made both internally within the NPP and externally by the public and other groups. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
The Easter Sunday Attacks: “There has been a group above Zahran’s; Pillayan had also known about the attack” – Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala reveals in parliament
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala stated in parliament yesterday (9th) that the Easter Sunday Attack was not an isolated incident and had been planned since 2017. Wijepala made the statements while attending the adjournment debate regarding the Easter Sunday Attack of April 21, 2019.
The minister stated that evidence has been found regarding an individual and a group who were above Zahran Hashim and directed him. The newspapers also highlight, quoting Wijepala, that former Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, had knowledge of the attack prior to it.
Wijepala further emphasised that the attack could have been prevented if the investigations into the murder of the two Vavunathivu police officers had been conducted properly. He also mentioned that Suresh Sallay has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the Easter attack.
State of Public Emergency passed with a majority of 110 votes in parliament; 137 votes in favour, 27 against
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan
The motion to approve the extension of the State of Public Emergency under the Public Security Ordinance was passed by a majority of 110 votes in parliament yesterday (9th). A total of 137 votes were cast in favour of the motion, while 27 votes were cast against it.
Members of the SJB, ITAK, New Democratic Front (NDF), and the SLPP, along with Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna, voted against the motion.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “If the government has done something wrong when assigning post-internship appointments, go to court! Do not make the public a target” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa – Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. IMF staff-level agreement reached to jointly conclude the fifth and sixth reviews under the four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for Sri Lanka – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. Activity in hospitals around the country dwindles due to the GMOA strike – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan
4. “Reduce high security zone limits” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructs security forces – Dinamina, Anidda, Thinakkural
5. The cost of preparing a traditional Avurudu kevili [New Year sweets] table in Sri Lanka has increased by 7% in 2026 compared to 2025 – Verité Research – Divaina, Thinakkural
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