DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Reintroduction of QR system for fuel distribution; Government announcement; Long queues at fuel stations | Fishing boat with drugs in the deep sea; five arrested: investigation underway | Warrant for Ranwala; Court announcement Thinakaran: Special high-level discussion to provide essential services without interruption; Preparations to avoid the impact of Middle East conflicts; Priority for health and education sectors; Possibility of working from home also examined |
Thinakkural: “Prepare to face any situation arising from the Middle East war; explore the ‘work from home’ system; find alternative ways for challenges” — President instructs ministry secretaries and Heads of Institutions | QR system reintroduced for fuel distribution | QR system to be introduced for fertiliser as well | “QR system will create economic problems” — Opposition warns Thamilan: President in talks with ministry secretaries; Examination of carrying out essential services without interruption | Reintroduction of the QR system considering the global crisis! The government’s decisive resolution yesterday; long queues for fuel |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: State sector to ‘work from home’? President calls on ministry secretaries to assess possibilities | QR code system inadequate — says three-wheeler, school van, and bus associations, along with doctors Divaina: QR code system reintroduced; fuel queues around the country; “Vehicle ownership can be verified through the code, do not collect fuel for unrelated vehicles” — Petroleum Shed Owners Association, “Police deployed near sheds” — Deputy IGP, Three-wheeler drivers say weekly 15-litre quota is insufficient; “Explore possibilities for state sector employees to ‘work from home’” — President calls on ministry secretaries
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Dinamina: QR code system introduced for fuel distribution to safeguard supplies; private buses receive fuel from CTB depots, President urges focus on ‘work from home’ while maintaining essential services, Talks underway on purchasing oil from Russia | Day 16 of the war: Death toll reaches 1,444 in Iran, 15 in Israel and 19 in neighbouring Middle East countries Aruna: Fuel sold via QR code system till the end of war; fuel cannot be obtained without a QR code, says Energy Ministry; quota allocated to three-wheelers to be revised soon; final decision on ‘work from home’ for state sector employees expected today; Fuel will not be issued in bottles, cans or barrels, says the Petroleum Shed Owners Association Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: News.lk
Humanitarian catastrophe due to Middle East conflicts; Sri Lanka’s urgent request for an immediate halt
Thinakaran, Virakesari
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing deep concern over the escalating tensions and deteriorating situation in the Middle East and West Asia.
Sri Lanka condemned attacks against civilians and public infrastructure, emphasising that protecting all civilians is a fundamental duty under international humanitarian law.
The government highlighted the potential negative impacts on the global economy and international trade resulting from the continued conflict.
Reaffirming its commitment to the UN Charter, Sri Lanka urged all parties to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
The statement further called for all involved parties to exercise maximum restraint and return to dialogue to prevent further escalation of the humanitarian crisis.
Draft National Media Policy handed over to the Minister
Thinakaran Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa and Deputy Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathne received the updated draft of the National Media Policy at the ministry recently. Prepared by an independent multi-stakeholder committee between May 2023 and December 2025, the policy incorporated feedback from journalists and civil society across regions, including Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, and Trincomalee. Minister Jayatissa noted that the ministry merely facilitated the process, emphasising that the document is an independent effort aimed at ensuring media freedom and professional standards. The draft process, which began with a 23-member committee in 2023, was expanded by the current government in early 2025 to include a 28-member panel to finalise the updates. Officials, including Director General of Government Information Harsha Bandara and other ministry representatives, attended the event marking this legislative milestone. |
“Fuel crisis after the New Year” — Minister Bimal states in JaffnaThinakkural
Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake stated that the QR system for fuel has been reintroduced as a precautionary measure against a potential energy crisis following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. He noted that global wartime tensions could impact domestic development projects if they persist for more than two months. Additionally, the minister stated that the government is taking steps to release private lands currently held by the Forest Department and the Department of Wildlife Conservation after resolving existing administrative hurdles. |
“Sri Lanka has every right to question the United States” — Namal Rajapaksa states in India
Thinakkural
SLPP National Organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa claimed that the US attack on an Iranian naval vessel in international waters near Galle was illegal.
Speaking at a conference in India, MP Rajapaksa stated that the strike occurred approximately 10 miles off the coast of Galle, violating international maritime laws.
He asserted that Sri Lanka has a moral right to question the US government regarding this incident, as it took place in close proximity to the country’s maritime boundaries.
The MP further noted that such actions disrupt peace in the Indian Ocean region and urged the Sri Lankan government to clarify its diplomatic stance on the matter.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
No fuel in bottles or cans, QR code to verify vehicles — Petroleum Shed Owners Association
Aruna, Divaina
The Petroleum Shed Owners Association has confirmed that all fuel stations have adopted the QR code system as of yesterday.
The association stated that fuel will no longer be issued in bottles, cans, or barrels.
They also emphasised that vehicle ownership can be verified through the QR code and warned against collecting fuel for vehicles not registered under the system.
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IMF delegation to visit Sri Lanka for sixth tranche review Dinamina Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando, said Sri Lanka has received five loan tranches so far. He noted that the visit will involve a comprehensive review of the government’s implementation of IMF-mandated measures to assess the country’s economic performance. Following this review, agreements are expected to be reached for the release of the sixth instalment of the financial programme. |
Petition against the arrest of Suresh SallayDivaina A petition was signed by 100,000 people protesting the arrest of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay on March 14 at the Maharagama War Heroes Memorial. The event, organised by the New People’s Front, was attended by a large number of lay and clerical political figures, led by the Front’s Deputy Secretary, Ven. Kirigalpotte Chandrananda Thera. Leader of the New People’s Front, Sugeeshwara Bandara, alleged that Sallay’s arrest is an attempt to shift blame for the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks onto former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and to incarcerate him. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: News Asia
QR code system reintroduced
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Aruna, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Newspapers reported that a QR code system has been reintroduced to control fuel distribution, adding that long queues are forming nationwide.
The Energy Ministry, in a statement reported by Aruna and Virakesari, stressed that fuel cannot be purchased without a QR code.
Drivers of three-wheelers, school vans, and private buses, along with the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), have stated that the system is inadequate and the quotas are insufficient.
Divaina and Thinakkural reported that police have been stationed near fuel stations, according to the Deputy IGP.
President urges ministry secretaries to explore ‘work from home’ options
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (15th) asked ministry secretaries to explore maintaining essential fuel reserves at the regional level and implementing remote working for official duties.
He urged prioritising critical sectors, such as healthcare, amid escalating Middle East tensions disrupting fuel supplies, and directed officials to submit reports on feasibility.
The president highlighted the need for advanced preparedness given unpredictable developments and called for further streamlining of the digital QR code system already in place.
His remarks came during a meeting with ministry secretaries and heads of State Institutions at the Presidential Secretariat to ensure the continued functioning of essential services.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Trump questions Khamenei’s survival, rules out Iran deal and vows to ‘liberate’ the Strait of Hormuz – Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. “The Strait of Hormuz is accessible to all vessels except those from the United States and its allies“ — Iranian foreign minister – Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. “Talks underway on purchasing oil from Russia and India, we’re seeking cabinet approval” — Herath – Dinamina, Thinakaran
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