DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Opposition jointly conspiring to sabotage education reforms; Government will not back down” – Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe announces | “Protest against the Kivul Oya project” – ITAK announcement Thinakaran: “New plan to protect and rebuild the Up-country region” – President | “Investigation into 11,000 complaints received regarding missing persons will be completed within two years,” Minister Harshana Nanayakkara | “Arrangements made by the Ministry to print and distribute Grade 6 old syllabus textbooks within 2 months” – Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa | “The Opposition is trying to seize power by exploiting the educational reforms” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa |
Thinakkural: “We will not allow the implementation of the Kivul Oya project; many ancient Tamil villages are at risk of being completely lost; this project is a form of structural genocide against Tamils” – MP Ravikaran | There is no information regarding the seized lands by the government in Vadamarachchi East | “Massive protest against the Kivul Oya project” – Sumanthiran Thamilan: Will the remand of Trincomalee monks continue? Verdict on January 30! Decision made yesterday during the hearing of the appeal petition | Law to regulate social media; government says action will be taken | Strike in hospitals today |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Liquidation of CEB delayed | Causing a loss of Rs. 800 million in fuel: indictments issued for Arjuna and Dhammika Ranatunga Divaina: Trincomalee Buddha statue incident: the case against Ven. Kassapa Thera and group; Court records containing acts of police pressure missing Mawbima: A doctors’ strike to be held today and tomorrow; specialist doctors to not participate | Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera, who revealed the issue with the module, [questioned] at the CID for two hours
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Dinamina: Causing a loss of Rs. 800 million to CEYPETCO: indictments issued for Arjuna and Dhammika Ranatunga Aruna: A 48-hour medical token strike launched from today: work at mental health, kidney, and children’s hospitals to continue Anidda: “We are not involved in discussions regarding a new constitution” – Minister of Justice |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
“We will not allow the implementation of the Kivul Oya project; many ancient Tamil villages are at risk of being completely lost; this project is a form of structural genocide against Tamils” – MP Ravikaran | “Massive protest against the Kivul Oya project” – ITAK
Thinakkural, Virakesar
Thinakkural: ITAK MP T. Ravikaran expressed strong opposition to the proposed Kivul Oya irrigation project during a recent meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation.
Ravikaran warned that the project, which has been allocated Rs. 2.5 billion in the current Budget, threatens to submerge ancient Tamil villages and several small irrigation tanks in Vavuniya North.
He specifically highlighted that historical villages such as Kanjuramottai and Kattupoovarasankulam are at risk of being absorbed into the Mahaweli Development Authority’s reservoir basins.
Virakesari, Thinakkural: The ITAK announced its decision to launch continuous protests against the implementation of the Kivul Oya project under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government.
Following the cabinet’s approval of the Mahaweli project last Monday (20th), ITAK’s General Secretary issued a statement warning that the initiative would alter demographic patterns and infringe upon the rights of the Tamil people.
Additionally, ITAK plans to hold further discussions in Vavuniya in the coming days to coordinate the protest movement and gather public input.
“Investigation into 11,000 complaints received regarding missing persons will be completed within two years,” Minister Harshana Nanayakkara
Thinakaran, Thinakkural Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara announced that investigations into 11,000 complaints received by the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) will be completed within two years. Speaking at a training programme for investigators in Vavuniya yesterday (22nd), he noted that 5,000 of these cases are expected to be finalised by the end of this year. The government has allocated Rs. 375 million for training and appointed 65 new officers to the OMP to resolve staffing issues that previously hindered progress. Minister Nanayakkara further confirmed that funding has been secured for mass grave investigations, stressing that the objective is to provide justice and build trust rather than merely offering compensation. He attributed past investigative delays to the political environment of the time and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the long-standing grievances of affected families. |
“Justice must be served for the human rights violations that occurred during the war in Sri Lanka” – British MP Uma emphasisesThinakaran British MP Uma Kumaran called for justice regarding alleged human rights violations during the war in Sri Lanka during a Thai Pongal reception held recently at 10 Downing Street. The event, organised by Kumaran, the first British MP of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, highlighted the success and resilience of the Tamil diaspora as a reflection of the promise of modern Britain. Sharing her personal history, Kumaran noted how her parents worked hard to rebuild opportunities in the UK that were lost in Sri Lanka, a narrative she described as common among the community. |
“Is there Israeli dominance in Trincomalee as well?” – MP Imran questions in parliament regarding the Kinniya land issue
Thamilan, Thinakkural, Virakesari
SJB MP Imran Maharoof expressed concern in parliament yesterday (22nd) over the sudden acquisition of 13 acres of land in Kinniya by the tourism sector.
The land was originally intended for a university college, with a building constructed using Rs. 50 million from the 2018 Budget that currently remains abandoned.
Maharoof stated that there is public suspicion regarding an attempt to establish Israeli dominance in Trincomalee, drawing parallels to Arugam Bay following a local deputy minister’s visit to Israel in December.
He urged the government to hand over the building to the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) for vocational training purposes.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
Doctors of the Colombo Eye Hospital launch a sudden strike: patients inconvenienced
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna
The doctors at the National Eye Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo launched a sudden strike yesterday (22nd).
Papers reported that thousands of patients faced severe hardships due to the sudden strike launched by doctors of the National Eye Hospital, connected to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).
The action was initiated following an incident involving the transfer of two out of four doctors at the National Eye Hospital, in accordance with annual transfers.
However, the Acting Director of the National Eye Hospital, Specialist Medical Officer Jayaruwan Bandara, stated that a group of doctors, including specialists who did not join the strike, provided necessary treatment to patients attending the clinics.
He further noted that the failure of doctors to fully engage in their duties due to the strike resulted in the disruption of patient care services.
“We brought female representation in parliament to 10%” – PM states in SwitzerlandDinamina Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya stated that excluding women from the decision-making process is a deliberate outcome of gender-based power hierarchies rather than a coincidental event. Amarasuriya added that despite Sri Lanka being the nation to produce the first female prime minister in history, female representation in parliament had previously failed to reach even 5%, a figure they have since raised to 10%. These statements were made during PM Amarasuriya’s participation in the World Woman Davos Agenda 2026 at the World Woman House on Wednesday (21st). The event was held in conjunction with the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The Prime Minister further asserted that creating environments where women can exercise leadership with confidence requires a fundamental transformation of both institutional and power-sharing structures. |
“A plan to assault those who didn’t sign the NCM brought against the PM by the SJB” – Nalinda JayatissaDinamina Chief Government Whip and Minister of Health and Media, Nalinda Jayatissa, emphasised in Parliament yesterday (22nd) that reports have been received regarding attempts to assault MPs who did not sign the no-confidence motion (NCM) sought by the SJB against PM Harini Amarasuriya. Jayatissa further stated that a group including Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the NFF Wimal Weerawansa, Leader of the PHU Udaya Gammanpila, and SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa are engaged in a bankrupt attempt to seize power by exploiting the education reforms initiated for children. Minister Jayatissa added that there is no issue if objections to the education reforms are expressed based on a correct argument or policy. |
“We are not involved in discussions regarding a new constitution” – Minister of Justice
Anidda
Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara states that neither the Ministry of Justice, which is under his purview, nor any other government party will support the multi-party discussions that are being held to draft a new constitution.
He added that drafting a new Constitution is a promise that was made by the NPP government, and that the NPP government will surely fulfil that promise.
However, Nanayakkara also added that the cabinet has not yet decided on a time frame to draft a new constitution.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
GMOA launches 48-hour token strike
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has launched a 48-hour islandwide token strike in state hospitals, which was set to commence at 8:00 a.m. today (23rd).
The GMOA states that the move to launch a strike followed the Health Ministry’s failure to execute solutions that were previously agreed upon.
Despite the planned action, emergency services will remain operational throughout the strike period.
According to the association, this trade union action had been suspended temporarily in the past.
That suspension was based on written assurances provided during discussions held with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Health Minister.
Causing a loss of Rs. 800 million to CEYPETCO: indictments issued for Arjuna and Dhammika Ranatunga
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has notified the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that indictments have been filed against former minister Arjuna Ranatunga and his brother Dhammika Ranatunga in the Colombo High Court.
The case involves an alleged financial loss totalling approximately Rs. 800 million to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO).
Based on submissions made to the court, the CIABOC stated that the purported loss was the result of inflated local tenders granted by the state-owned oil entity during the period under investigation.
At the time of the alleged incident, Arjuna Ranatunga held the position of Minister of Petroleum, while Dhammika Ranatunga served as the Chairperson of CEYPETCO.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “There were no discussions in the cabinet meeting to remove the AG” – Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara – Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakkural
2. “Need laws to regulate social media” — Minister Nalinda Jayatissa – Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. Trincomalee Buddha statue incident: verdict of the Appeal Court postponed to January 30 – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
4. The SC verdict for the draft bill to abolish MP pensions to be given to the Speaker soon – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
5. “Shritharan must leave the Constitutional Council” – MP Dayasiri Jayasekara– Anidda, Thamilan
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