DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Do not allow space for the LTTE symbol” – Foreign Minister requests Canadian High Commissioner | Protest surrounding the car Tilvin travelled in; more than a hundred Eelam supporters protest in London Thinakaran: “No one can act as if they have a separate region or kingdom; Archaeology Department is legal” – Ananda Wijepala | 16-day programme to prevent violence against women; Special numbers provided for complaints | “No discrimination is shown among schools in the distribution of resources; Shortcomings will be eliminated in the review” – Prime Minister replies to MP Imran’s question | “The claim that Ranil saved the country is a false fantasy; the government will never collapse” – Tilvin Silva |
Thinakkural: “Archaeological sites can be identified anywhere; Do not think there is a separate region or kingdom; Proper investigations will be held regarding the removal of signboards in the East” – Minister Ananda Wijepala | “The Archaeology Department is causing major ethnic clashes” – Srineshan MP | Harassment against female MPs inside Parliament? Thamilan: Tamil diaspora strongly protests against Tilvin Silva in London; Demonstrators chant slogans demanding to stop the genocide | Archaeology Department signboards removed: Suspects to be arrested soon! Minister Ananda Wijepala announces in parliament |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: 10 slammed with the death sentence over stoning a youth to death: three women also among the sentenced; two others released Divaina: 10 members of the same family sentenced to death for hacking daughter’s boyfriend over not ending the relationship: three women also among the sentenced | Who is the Hanuma that is trying to remove archaeological nameboards in Batticaloa and spark racism? Police start investigations Mawbima: 10, including the father who murdered the daughter’s boyfriend, given the death sentence: three women of the same family also among the sentenced | “The reliability of social media has been destroyed: pictures of the Nugegoda rally are also fake” — Tilvin Silva says in London
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Dinamina: 22,000 kg of drugs seized in 11 months: 26,573 arrested in 25 days in Ratama Ekata operation Aruna: 10 individuals sentenced to death in Embilipitiya over killing a young man by stoning him and chopping him with an axe: Sokari Lokka, Kiri Bappa and three women among the sentenced; a 43-page verdict Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
“Identifying archaeological sites will lead to ethnic conflicts and will also affect reconciliation” – MP Srineshan condemns
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Gnanamuththu Srineshan stated in parliament yesterday (24th) that identifying archaeological sites without consulting or obtaining the consent of parliamentarians and local government (LG) members will create ethnic conflicts and significantly harm reconciliation.
Srineshan emphasised that numerous problems have arisen in the past regarding the identification of archaeological sites in Batticaloa.
He pointed out that placing archaeological marker boards suddenly—while the lands are under the supervision and administration of functioning LG councils and without informing the LG members—causes tensions.
The MP stated that while the President has called for the celebration of “Sri Lankan Day” to promote unity, actions like unilaterally identifying sites in Batticaloa create contradictions.
He further noted that certain issues are questionable; he referenced a religious leader from Mihintale who claimed that Buddhist symbols were placed on the Kurunthur Malai site before it was designated as having Buddhist symbols, raising suspicion among the people.
“Irreversible federalism within an undivided country”; C.V.K. says [they] are ready to accept it as a solution
Thinakaran ITAK Leader C.V.K. Sivagnanam stated that the party is ready to accept an irreversible federal structure within an undivided country as the solution. He emphasises that ITAK has never betrayed the Tamil people, countering the claims made by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Selvarajah Kajendren. Sivagnanam notes that the party worked diligently on efforts to operate collectively with Tamil nationalist parties, including having discussions with every party leader at their homes; however, no one cooperated with the common plan. He further noted that during their recent discussion with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, they focused on the Provincial Council election and the necessity of a new constitution, with the President affirming that the government expects to move towards a new political solution as the old one is unsuitable for addressing the issues faced by the people of the North and East. |
Trincomalee Gun Site torture camp: Two female Navy personnel arrested
Virakesari The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested two female naval personnel yesterday (24th) in connection with the disappearance of Shantha Samarawickrama, also known as Kegalle Shantha, as part of the investigations into the Navy’s Trincomalee Gun Site underground torture chamber. The two suspects, naval personnel Deepa Sandamali and Aruni Kaws, were produced before the Polgahawela Magistrate. The two female personnel are the 13th and 14th suspects in this case. They were arrested on charges of aiding and abetting the murder or concealing information related to the incident. |
KKS Port Development; MoU with India; “Talks to be held in January” – Minister Anura Karunathilaka informs
Thinakkural, Thamilan Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka stated that discussions with India regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Port development will commence in January 2026. India has agreed to carry out these development works in a joint venture with Sri Lanka and has guaranteed a grant of USD 63.15 million for the project. The Minister made this announcement in Parliament yesterday (24th) during the Committee Stage debate on the financial allocations for the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation for the 2026 Budget. |
Easter Sunday attack; Order to re-investigate the case to the High Court; Investigations to begin on January 26
Thinakaran, Virakesari The case filed by the Attorney General against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara—accused of failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks despite prior intelligence—is scheduled to be heard by the Colombo High Court on January 26. Although a three-judge bench of the High Court had previously acquitted the two officials, the Attorney General challenged this verdict in the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal subsequently overturned the acquittal and ordered the High Court to resume the trial. The hearing, which had been temporarily suspended due to a vacancy on the three-judge bench, is set to proceed following the resolution of the vacancy. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
CCTV cameras compulsory for school vans
Dinamina, Aruna
Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake stated yesterday (24th) in parliament that the installation of CCTV cameras in school vans will be mandatory from next January.
Rathnayake made the statement during the debate concerning the expenditure heads of the ministry.
He also added that this measure will allow parents to be informed about their child from their homes.
Rathnayake further stated: “A set of instructions will be issued for school vans and office vans starting from January. Passengers should be made aware to oppose any harassment towards a woman or a child within the public transport service. If a wrongdoing occurs and one does not speak about it, that is not suitable. One should not pretend not to see something wrong when they are seeing it.”
He added that steps will be taken to bring the bus industry and the three-wheeler industry to a professional level.
22,000 kg of drugs caught within 11 months: 26,573 caught from the Ratama Ekata mission within 25 daysDinamina In the 25 days from the start of the Ratama Ekata (A Nation United) mission on October 30 up to Sunday (23rd), 26,573 people have been arrested in raids with nearly 1,850 kg of illicit drugs. The largest quantity of these drugs was discovered during raids conducted at sea. The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) carried out these raids based on information provided by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), State Intelligence Service, and the Navy Intelligence Unit. It is reported that this is the largest drug haul seized within a short period in the history of the country. Including this drug haul, 221,246 people have been arrested in raids conducted this year from January 1 until now, along with 22,056 kg of drugs. |
“The second Maha Jana Handa rally to be held in January” – Gammanpila states
Divaina Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Udaya Gammanpila stated yesterday that the second Maha Jana Handa rally, by several Opposition parties in protest against the government, will be held in January 2026. He added that the first rally held in Nugegoda was a success and the organisers had decided to hold a second rally in January. However, the place and the date have not been decided as yet, he added. Speaking to the media in Colombo, he further stated that the parties that organised the rally will try to convince other Opposition parties who did not join the Nugegoda rally to join the Maha Jana Handa coalition for the next rally. |
“Calling editors to the CID and scaring them is not media freedom” – Deshapriya
Aruna
Former Chairperson of the Election Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya, stated that attempting to intimidate editors by summoning them to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) when legal procedures are available to verify the truth or falsehood of a news item published in a newspaper is not media freedom.
Deshapriya further commented that he expresses his displeasure regarding the summoning of Mahinda Ileperuma, the Chief Editor of the Aruna newspaper, to the CID concerning a news item published in the newspaper.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
10 members of the same family sentenced to death for hacking daughter’s boyfriend over not ending the relationship: three women also among the sentenced
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Embilipitiya High Court, yesterday (24th), sentenced ten individuals, including three women, to death after convicting them of hacking, stabbing, and killing a young man with stones and poles 14 years ago in the Mullagasyaya area of Embilipitiya.
The incident occurred on October 11, 2011, when a personal dispute escalated between the accused and the 30-year-old victim.
The victim was subsequently cut, stabbed with sharp weapons, and beaten with stones and poles by the family and father of his girlfriend for not ending their romantic relationship.
Eight males and four females were arrested in connection with the incident.
After a lengthy trial, the Senior State Counsel, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General (AG), successfully proved the charges against seven male accused and three female accused beyond a reasonable doubt, while two were acquitted and released.
Announcing the verdict, the Embilipitiya High Court Judge ordered prison officials to hold the ten convicted accused at Welikada Prison until they are given the death penalty, at a date, time, and location to be determined by the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
“Will immediately arrest those responsible and bring them before the court” – Minister Ananda Wijepala
Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala stated yesterday (24th) in parliament that a full investigation regarding the incident of nameboards being removed from several archaeological sites in the Eastern Province has been launched.
Wijepala stated that certain groups have removed six directional signboards and two nameboards pointing to archaeological sites in Batticaloa, Valaichchenai, and the surrounding areas.
The minister added that some people still believe they have their own separate state regions, but that the law of Sri Lanka is common to every direction—North, South, East, and West.
Minister Ananda Wijepala made this statement during a special announcement in parliament yesterday (24) regarding the removal of several archaeological nameboards in several locations in the Eastern Province.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Tilvin Silva, who visited London for the November Maha Viru commemoration, faces protests from LTTE-friendly protestors – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. “The situation in Kadugannawa is serious; future steps will be decided after reviewing all reports and discussing the issue with the president” – Minister Bimal Rathnayake – Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran
3. “Stop the cowardly act of calling journalists who reveal the truth to the CID” – Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa – Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari
4. “Do not conduct activities in Canada that will create ethnic disharmony in Sri Lanka” – Minister Vijitha Herath requests the Canadian High Commissioner – Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakkural
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