26 January 2026 | Vol. 12, #15

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: “Shritharan removed from Parliamentary Group Leader post; ITAK Political Committee unanimously decides” – Sumanthiran announces | Today is India’s 77th Republic Day

Thinakaran: Drug trafficking thwarted in the southern sea; 11 people arrested | “Equal eye care for all” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa 

Thinakkural: Immediately stop the Kivul Oya project; Massive protest in Vavuniya North on the 30th | Kivul Oya project; “Tamil parties are lying!” – Ramalingam Chandrasekar | ITAK MP Shritharan stripped of Parliament Committee Leader post? Sumanthiran says the decision was made because he refused to accept the advice of the Political Committee | Six police officers verbally abused the Reverend Father; assaulted him with their legs and helmets; admitted to Negombo Hospital 

Thamilan: Withdrawal of Shritharan MP’s post! “The party has decided to withdraw the responsibility of the Parliamentary Group Leader” – Sumanthiran | 11 suspects arrested with drugs; 184 kg of ‘ice’ and heroin seized

Lankadeepa: Coal crisis at power plants: generation disrupted as only 3 of 38 ships arrive; year-long risk feared if supplies miss April rains; allegations that conditions were altered to transfer the tender from South Africa to India | Did Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha chairperson create chaos at police station after bike was stopped? Police say incident was videoed 

Divaina: Suspended parliament’s second-in-command goes to court seeking justice; says he was suspended without inquiry or hearing, faces allegation of giving false information to secure post; social media claims real reason was revealing a private detail of the Speaker | Rs. 450 crore drug haul seized in two trawlers in southern seas linked to ‘Dehibale’; 11 including fisherfolk and dealers detained in largest seizure this year | Doctors to launch continuous strike from today after halting 48-hour one; “We will not issue prescriptions for outside medicine or tests” – GMOA

Mawbima: Drugs worth Rs. 450 crore seized from two vessels in southern seas | Mystery surrounds death of young woman in torched Ankumbura house; former prison guard arrested

Dinamina: Shiranthi buys land in Colombo for Rs. 350 lakhs via Siriliya account | IMF allocates Rs. 4,980 crore for business development | Drugs worth Rs. 500 crore seized at sea; 296 kg found in two vessels in largest haul recently | Parliament Deputy Secretary-General Chaminda Kularatne suspended

Aruna: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage

Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

“Cannot accept the resolution; MP Shritharan firm; Ready to appear before an independent inquiry committee that does not include Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan” – Shritharan

Virakesari

MP S. Shritharan rejected the ITAK Political Committee’s decision to remove him from the Parliamentary Group Leader post, asserting the resolution was not properly adopted.

He claimed that the directive to resign from the Constitutional Council (CC) was issued in his absence and without seeking his explanation, describing the party’s recent conduct as authoritarian.

Shritharan maintained that his CC membership is independent of the party’s jurisdiction but offered to face an inquiry committee provided it excludes M.A. Sumanthiran and MP Shanakiyan.

“New counter-terrorism draft is dangerous: Excessive powers granted to the defence sector!” – Lawyer Ambika, former Human Rights Commissioner

Thamilan

Former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Ambika Satkunanathan asserted that the proposed Protecting the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA) continues to grant excessive powers to the security forces.

Speaking at a discussion in Colombo with civil society and diplomatic representatives from the US, Switzerland, Australia, and the UN, Satkunanathan noted that the PSTA is a dangerous replacement for the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

She highlighted that despite government promises to abolish the PTA, the new draft merely rebrands the law while maintaining provisions that target activists and journalists.

Key concerns include the authority of Ministry Secretaries to declare prohibited places and the power of security forces to arrest individuals based on “intent” without a clear definition of terrorism.

Satkunanathan concluded that the PSTA remains a framework for fundamental rights violations as it fails to empower the judiciary to fully discharge suspects.

Immediately stop the Kivul Oya project; Massive protest in Vavuniya North on the 30th

Thinakkural, Virakesari

Tamil political parties have organised a massive protest in Vavuniya North this Friday (30th) to oppose the government’s Kivul Oya project.

The parties allege that the project, supported by millions of rupees in state funding, facilitates land grabbing in traditional Tamil areas and aims to alter regional demographics.

They further pointed out that the initiative is being implemented without local consent or sufficient environmental and social impact assessments.

“Government’s downfall will begin at the end of the year; Ranil will return then” – Harin states

Thinakkural

UNP Deputy Secretary Harin Fernando stated that the merger between the UNP and SJB is 99.9% certain and will be finalised soon.

The working committees of both parties are scheduled to meet at the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha, to discuss the formation of a joint alliance.

Fernando noted that Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed that he is no longer in active politics but will serve as a party advisor to provide guidance.

The proposed leadership structure is expected to involve a leadership council, with the Opposition Leader playing a significant role.

This unification aims to “meet public expectations for a united front to address the country’s economic decline and the government’s projected failures by the end of the year.”

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

“Do not sacrifice patients for political gains” – Wijemuni

Dinamina, Divaina

Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hansaka Wijemuni condemned the recent 48-hour strike by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), stating that it held patients hostage for political gains.

He added that even if the Central Bank provided all the requested funds, the association’s political demands would not be met.

Urging doctors not to “play with human lives”, Wijemuni also noted that the government has yet to use even its minimum powers to address the situation.

Coal crisis at power plants: “Third shipment also substandard” – Jagoda

Lankadeepa, Divaina

Lankadeepa reported that a coal shortage at power plants has disrupted electricity generation, with only three of the 38 expected shipments arriving.

Authorities warn of a potential year-long power risk if the remaining supplies do not arrive before April.

The report also cited allegations that tender conditions were altered to transfer the contract from South Africa to India.

Divaina quoted Pubudu Jagoda of the Frontline Socialist Party, who said the third coal shipment received at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant was substandard—a point the government has reportedly acknowledged.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS