DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Don’t forget how Gotabaya fled through the back door; the government should remember that” – MP Chamara Sampath warns in parliament | Photograph: MP Rauff Hakeem meets Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Thinakaran: A large amount of funds allocated in the budget to recommence abandoned projects in the East; Rs. 300 million allocated in the budget for the Nintavur Cultural Centre; revival of dormant projects as well; Muslim intellectuals praise the government | Photograph: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pays his last respects to the remains of the late Dr Rasamanickam Rajaputhiran, the father of ITAK MP R. Shanakiyan |
Thinakkural: “Testimonies of war crimes have automatically reached the government through confessions; make Fonseka a witness in the white flag massacre” – MP Srineshan urges | “Ranil’s government rescued the nation; this government’s job is to obey the IMF” – Rauff Hakeem | Illegal asset accumulation: Search operations begin in Jaffna too! Thamilan: “The government is concerned over sex education; no final decision yet on how, when and on the age of students” – The prime minister | Sarath Fonseka is a key witness to the massacres in the North and East! MP Srineshan demands immediate investigation into his statements | “Provincial Council elections will not take place!” – MP Harshana Rajakaruna criticises the government |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: The potato-onion crisis worsens: “Pay an appropriate amount” – Farmers in Nuwara Eliya, Welimada and Dambulla protest: The Nuwara Eliya economic centre shut down; police protection deployed; stocks to Colombo halted Divaina: A river of tears at the Jayaganga Junction: The Thalawa bus accident that caused the death of a student sitting for his Ordinary Level examination; the driver of the bus arrested Mawbima: The Beliatta-Anuradhapura train delayed due to a row between the driver and the guard; an investigation into the incident | A school student dies in the Thalawa bus accident; 30, including several A/L students, injured
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Dinamina: Rs. 19 billion for the welfare of those with disabilities: An allowance of Rs. 10,000 per month for 140,000 people: Rs. 1 billion for children with autism | A fatal accident in Thalawa: One dead, 47 injured | “Will put you out [of the chamber] if you do not know how to behave” – The speaker tells Sujeewa Senasinghe Aruna: The potato and onion farmers take to the streets demanding a fair price for harvests: The vegetable supply to Dambulla and Keppetipola reduced due to the protests Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Sarath Fonseka is a key witness to the massacres in the North and East! MP Srineshan demands an immediate investigation into his statements
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan, Virakesari
Speaking during the second day of the 2026 Budget debate in parliament yesterday (10th), ITAK MP G. Srineshan urged the government to immediately investigate war crimes by using Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as a key witness. He stated that Fonseka, who led the war, has become a witness, publicly revealing those allegedly involved in the sexual assault and murder of Isaipriya and the killing of individuals who surrendered with white flags.
Srineshan argued that since the NPP government advocates for a domestic mechanism, it must use this testimony given by Fonseka. He also linked resolving the national ethnic issue to the country’s economic progress, stating that long-standing issues of accountability remain unfulfilled.
A large amount of funds allocated in the budget to recommence abandoned projects in the East; Muslim intellectuals praise the governmentThinakaran Muslim intellectuals stated that the current NPP government is reviving the political aspirations of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) founder and former Minister M.H.M. Ashraff, which had been neglected since his death. They noted this in response to the government allocating Rs. 300 million in the budget to construct the Nintavur Cultural Centre. The foundation stone for the Nintavur Cultural Centre was laid by Ashraff in 1999, but thereafter, the project stalled for 25 years. The intellectuals added that the project’s revival began after political power in Nintavur shifted away from the SLMC in 2025. |
“If it is a fair solution acceptable to the Tamil people, all Tamil parties will unite” – SithadthanThinakkural ILeader of the PLOTE and former MP Dharmalingam Sithadthan stated that the ethnic problem persists because no Sinhala political leader since independence has been willing to provide a fair mechanism of devolving power that meets the aspirations of the Tamil people. Speaking at an event in Jaffna on Sunday (9th), Sithadthan refuted the claim that disunity among Tamil parties is the cause of the unresolved issue. Sithadthan asserted that all Tamil parties are prepared to unite and present their stance if the government proposes a reasonable solution. |
Four minority members to be in the Archaeological Committee: The government decides
Thamilan Reliable sources state that the government has decided to include four minority members in the Archaeological Advisory Board. According to an unnamed government official, this decision, which includes appointing two Tamils and two Muslims, was reportedly discussed extensively at the cabinet meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (10th). The official also noted that the board’s membership will be reduced from 19 to 14. This decision follows significant criticism, as the board originally appointed on October 24 by Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi and gazetted on November 1, did not include any minority representatives. |
SLMC Leader Hakeem meets Chief Minister Stalin
Thinakaran, Thamilan, Virakesari Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and MP Rauff Hakeem met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and requested that the state government arrange an official study and publish a document on the contribution of Indian Muslims to the spiritual and economic development of Sri Lankan Muslims. During the meeting, Hakeem also sought cooperation on sending sculptors from India for temple construction projects for the Hill Country Tamil people. Recalling the special scheme announced in Tamil Nadu’s last budget for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, Hakeem thanked Stalin for its introduction. The two leaders also exchanged views on the issues faced by Tamil Nadu fisherfolk. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
5,000 Civil Security Service officers to the DWC to curb the human-elephant issue
Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna
Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala stated in parliament yesterday (10th) that 5,000 Civil Security Service officers will be deployed to mitigate the human-elephant. The minister added that 3,975 of these officers have already been sent to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) and that it has been decided to deploy another 10,000 for duties in the Police Department and to grant them a special allowance for this purpose.
“I will not be able to make it to the Nugegoda rally due to two reasons” – Mahinda Rajapaksa | “My father will not be attending the rally in Nugegoda, but his blessings will be there” – Namal RajapaksaLankadeepa, Divaina Divaina reports quoting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he will not be attending the rally organised by the joint opposition on November 21. Rajapaksa cited two reasons for not being able to attend this rally organised against the government. Rajapaksa added that one of the reasons is that he will not be able to meet with the people who are visiting him in Tangalle. The other reason is the extra time that the journey from Tangalle to Nugegoda would take. Lankadeepa, featuring SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa reports that his father [Mahinda Rajapaksa] will not be attending the rally but that his blessings will be there for the rally. |
Rs. 19 billion for the welfare of those with disabilities: An allowance of Rs. 10,000 per month for 140,000 people; Rs. 1 billion for children with autismDinamina Financial allocations amounting to billions of rupees have been made in the 2026 Budget for the welfare and to secure the rights of people with disabilities residing in the country. Under the Aswesuma welfare programme, the government has already allocated Rs. 19 billion to provide a monthly relief of Rs. 10,000 to approximately 140,000 individuals with disabilities. Additionally, nearly a billion rupees have been allocated for the continuous construction of day care centers under the Ministry of Health and the Department of Social Services, for children diagnosed with autism. |
“The solution for poverty is not in this budget” – Premadasa
Dinamina
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that the 2026 Budget proposal lacks a programme, a philosophy and a vision to solve poverty. Premadasa made this statement yesterday (10th) while attending the opening ceremony of the SJB’s main party office in Horana.
Commenting further, the opposition leader stated that, “The government today is following the Goebbels theory and telling lies. Following the Goebbels theory, they think that this lie will be accepted and they will continuously receive state power. These budget proposals do not have a programme, a philosophy, or a vision to solve the level of poverty that stands between 40% and 50%.”
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Fatal accident in Thalawa: One dead, 47 injured
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
A bus accident occurred at the Jayaganga Junction in Thalawa yesterday (10th), claiming the life of a 17-year-old school student, while 47 other passengers were injured. The accident occurred when a private bus veered off the road to make way for a motorbike that was driving unsafely. Reports state that investigations are underway to locate the motor-cyclist. The bus was carrying more than 40 passengers at the time of the accident. The police have arrested the driver of the bus.
Six sentenced to death for running over and killing two with a tipper
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakkural
Six individuals were sentenced to death at the Ampara High Court yesterday (10th) in connection with a murder that took place on April 14, 2015. The six individuals were found guilty of assaulting and murdering two individuals in Padiyathalawa.
The group had assaulted and run over two individuals with a tipper for protesting against the six individuals who had been consuming alcohol inside a vehicle. As a result, the High Court imposed the death penalty on the six individuals involved in the incident.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “Will put you out [of the chamber] if you do not know how to behave” – The speaker tells Sujeewa Senasinghe | “Will have to be expelled from the chamber if disruption continues” – The speaker issues severe warning to Sujeewa Senasinghe and Ramanathan Archchuna – Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. “Students will be given sex education based on the directives of the health sector and other specialists” – PM Harini Amarasuriya – Mawbima, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. Harin Fernando takes over a new role in the UNP – Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
4. The potato-onion crisis worsens: “Pay an appropriate amount” – Farmers in Nuwara Eliya, Welimada and Dambulla protest – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Thamilan
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