DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “I will not allow the trust you have placed in us to falter even slightly” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake states at the Northern Province Thai Pongal festival | “Allow UN officials to visit Sri Lanka” – Human rights activists urge the government regarding the accountability process Thinakaran: “The goal is to build a nation free of racism” – The President at the Northern Province Thai Pongal festival |
Thinakkural: “We will not allow the trust the people of Jaffna have in us to be shattered; we will certainly create a nation free of racism” – President assures in Velanai | Sri Lanka’s first cable car project; Chinese company decides to withdraw | “The President will definitely fulfil the trust of the Jaffna people” – Northern Governor Thamilan: “A prosperous nation with national unity and free from racism is essential” – President states at the Northern Province Thai Pongal festival | Two monks on a hunger strike demanding the rights of Sinhalese people; Protest from Trincomalee Prison | “Increase the minimum fare to Rs. 50!” – Bus owners demand |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: CEB in crisis due to decision of the commission: Rs. 150 billion taken in loans to settle employee compensations? | The module issue: six of the National Institute of Education to the CID; investigation reports next week Divaina: Ven. Kassapa Thera, who was imprisoned, launches hunger strike: strike called off following request from the Maha Sangha – Prisons Spokesperson Mawbima: Loans and aid needed for informal businesses that collapsed due to Ditwah – UNDP | New directives on destroyed property: Rs. 5 million to be given in three instalments; Rs. 500,000 to be given in two instalments
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Dinamina: Revoke licences of motorists found using drugs – Police urge Justice Minister Aruna: Education reforms had not been finalised by September: audit reveals National Institute of Education failed to prepare a ‘roadmap’ Anidda: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Prevention of Terrorism Act: Special committee appointed to examine easing of penalties
Thinakaran, Thinakkural
Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara stated that a committee has been appointed to review the sentences of individuals serving over 20 years under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
This initiative targets prisoners on death row or serving life sentences nationwide, including the North and East, with a recommendation report expected shortly.
The Movement for the Release of Tamil Political Prisoners highlighted that approximately 10 individuals remain in detention and urged the government to take immediate action for their release.
Minister Nanayakkara clarified that these measures apply specifically to PTA-related arrests and invited the submission of personal details for any individuals requiring attention.
“Allow UN officials to visit Sri Lanka” – Human rights activists urge the government regarding the accountability process
Virakesari A 30-page report by the OHCHR revealed that sexual violence during and after the armed conflict in Sri Lanka was not accidental, but rather systematically structured and used as a weapon of oppression. Human rights activist Ambika Satkunanathan noted that the report reaffirms the lack of justice and accountability, while the culture of impunity for perpetrators continues to strengthen. She urged the government to allow officials from the UN accountability project to work within Sri Lanka if it is genuinely committed to justice. Civil activist Shreen Saroor stated that the report is a result of the long-term struggle by survivors, even as powerful perpetrators remain in society. Additionally, Meenakshi Ganguly of Human Rights Watch (HRW) emphasised that the international community must maintain pressure on the government to fulfil its obligations under international law to punish those involved in war crimes. |
“Supporting the Prime Minister is not an individual decision, but a party resolution” – Shritharan hits back at MP KavindaThinakaran ITAK MP S. Shritharan clarified that the decision not to support a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya is a collective resolution made by the party’s parliamentary group rather than a personal choice. This statement serves as a direct rebuttal to SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardena, who had previously suggested that Shritharan was the only member against the motion while implying other party members would align with the Opposition. Shritharan dismissed these claims as irrelevant, noting that ITAK Chair C.V.K. Sivagnanam had already officially briefed all party members on this specific stance last week. The party leadership has instructed its members to abstain from the Opposition’s no-confidence motion. Ultimately, Shritharan emphasised that ITAK is an independent entity and is not obligated to accept or follow every decision made by the main Opposition party, the SJB. |
“Boycotting the President’s events; legal action against Prajashakthi” – Sumanthiran announces
Thinakkural General Secretary of the ITAK M.A. Sumanthiran announced that the party decided to boycott President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s events in Jaffna, including the Thai Pongal festival yesterday (15th). The decision follows the government’s formation of an organisation named ‘Prajashakthi’, which ITAK claims functions as a parallel structure to local government bodies and uses state resources to strengthen the NPP. Sumanthiran further stated that the party intends to legally challenge this mechanism, citing historical precedents where the JVP successfully blocked similar parallel structures for being unconstitutional. |
“The government is expanding Sinhalese settlements by constructing Buddhist viharas in Tamil areas” – Shritharan tells the Australian High CommissionerThinakkural Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth met with ITAK MP S. Shritharan in Jaffna last Wednesday (14th). Shritharan highlighted concerns regarding the government’s lack of progress on accountability and the expansion of settlements through the construction of Buddhist temples in the North and East. He further briefed the High Commissioner on the continued military occupation of civilian lands and the need for job opportunities and investments in the region. Shritharan emphasised that the role and pressure of the international community are vital to achieving a permanent, sustainable, and dignified political solution. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily News
Livelihoods of 93% affected in cyclone-hit areas – UNDP
Mawbima, Dinamina
A new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assessment reveals that 93% of respondents in cyclone-hit areas reported significant impacts on their livelihoods.
According to the UNDP, the disaster caused widespread crop and livestock losses, business closures, and job losses, particularly within the informal sector.
The UNDP emphasises that moving beyond short-term humanitarian aid toward early recovery and resilience-building is vital to prevent vulnerable populations from falling into a cycle of poverty.
The report suggests that investing in local economies and the informal sector is central to securing sustainable livelihoods.
To facilitate this recovery, the assessment identifies and proposes fulfilling key needs such as support for micro-enterprises and access to low-interest loans and capital for small businesses to rebuild infrastructure and stocks.
Action taken against filling station that hid 92 Octane petrol and sold high-priced fuelDivaina, Mawbima, Dinamina The Consumer Affairs Authority has taken steps to raid filling stations that cause difficulties for vehicle owners at night by claiming that 92 Octane petrol is unavailable while selling higher-priced Euro 3 petrol at increased rates. Accordingly, officers from the Kalutara District Consumer Affairs Authority conducted a sudden raid on a leading filling station in the Beruwala area on the night of January 14. During the raid, officers discovered a stock of nearly 6,400 litres of 92 Octane petrol that had been hidden without being issued to consumers. The filling station management revealed that they had been instructed by officials of the relevant company to claim that 92 Octane petrol was unavailable at night and to sell Euro 3 petrol instead. Further investigations are underway regarding the matter, and the relevant fuel stock has been taken into official custody and sealed. |
A landslide risk on one side of Ambuluwawa: 18 families to be evacuatedMawbima, Dinamina Plans have been made to evacuate residents from 18 houses in the Sinhapitiya area at the foot of the Ambuluwawa mountain based on a report issued by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) stating that there is a risk of landslides in said area. The NBRO officials, who observed several cracks in the ground on one slope of the Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Complex, have recommended that seven nearby houses located below are in a high-risk zone. It has also been informed that another six houses are in a medium-risk zone. |
Distribution of Rs. 10,000 from the President’s Fund for children affected by the cyclone commences
Dinamina
The distribution of a Rs. 10,000 allowance from the President’s Fund for schoolchildren affected by Cyclone Ditwah has now commenced.
The relevant financial allocations have been forwarded to all District Secretariats.
All school students who received the Rs. 15,000 allowance provided by the government are eligible for this allowance.
Every school student affected by the disaster will receive a total financial assistance of Rs. 25,000, as mentioned by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake while presenting the recent Budget.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
The 20 megawatt capacity ‘Windscape Mannar’ wind power plant declared open under the patronage of the President
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
The 20 megawatt ‘Windscape Mannar’ wind power plant constructed in Mannar by Ceylex Renewables was officially connected to the national grid yesterday (15th) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The move was made in line with the Government’s programme to achieve the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
For the first time in Sri Lanka’s energy history, four of the country’s largest wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5 megawatts, have been commissioned under the ‘Windscape Mannar’ project.
As the project has been implemented by a fully local company, it has enabled a substantial amount of foreign exchange, which would otherwise have flowed to foreign contractors, to be retained within the country, thereby further strengthening the domestic economy.
“Will not let even a drop of trust received from Jaffna be lost” – President
Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared that the government’s objective is to build a prosperous, non-racist nation where all citizens can live with dignity regardless of their language or religion.
Addressing the Northern Province Thai Pongal festival held in Velanai yesterday (15th), he invited the public to commit to creating a better future for the country’s children.
Dissanayake noted that during the past year, communal conflicts have reached historic lows and movements promoting racism have weakened.
He further emphasised that the respect, value, and recognition of all diverse cultures are essential for building trust and national unity.
Mawbima highlighted a statement by Dissanayake, quoting the president stating that he will not allow even a drop of the trust placed in him by the people of Jaffna to be lost.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, who was imprisoned, launches a hunger strike | Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera agrees to prison meals – Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. US President Donald Trump halts migrant visas for 75 countries – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Thinakaran
3. National Pongal Festival held at Temple Trees – Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
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