3 December 2025 | Vol. 11, #218

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: Controversy over airspace permission issue; India grants permission for aid request to Sri Lanka; Pakistan alleges delay | Pictorial: Many people died due to landslides in the Badulla District caused by the natural disaster. Indian rescue teams engaged in rescue operations in one of the landslide areas

Thinakaran: International community supports government’s effort to [help the] country recover; Many countries including USA, Britain, India, Pakistan and China provide assistance; Civil societies also in the field | Crack in Kotmale Dam; Those who spread false information will be punished by law – President | A/L Examinations postponed to December are put off again | Cabinet approval to expedite relief; Additional funds also released

Thinakkural: Inaccessibility to many areas; A huge challenge for rescue operations! Over 200 roads severely damaged; Lack of accurate information on those buried in the soil is also a major problem | Are reservoirs the cause of the Upcountry (Malaiyagam) disasters? The Mahaweli Development Authority denies

Thamilan: Death toll feared to exceed 1,000? Corpses are found while digging [the soil]

Lankadeepa: 300,000 children have been affected by the disaster – A revelation from the UNICEF

Divaina: “We are forever indebted to you who toiled to quell our hunger” – Villagers on the Air Force pilot that died; “Before he left, my husband told me that many people have been affected by the floods and are in despair, we will distribute food and come; you stay safe with our son” – Wife of Air Force pilot who passed away; “my son loved both his family and his duty” – Mother of the pilot

Mawbima: Orders given to forcefully evacuate those affected from risky areas, even if they refuse – President orders police | “Places that experienced landslides could be activated by the slightest rain” – Prof. Atula Senaratne | Death toll passes 410: 336 missing

Dinamina: Humanitarian aid worth Rs. 1.92 billion from several countries to help recover from the disaster | World leaders express support for Sri Lanka: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake receives calls and messages

Aruna: A 39 [train] power sets trapped due to floods; disruptions to office trains – Railway Station Masters’ Union

Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

“Ready to resettle Hill Country people in the North and East” – EROS

Thinakkural

EROS General Secretary Rajanayagam Prabakaran stated that his party is prepared to resettle people from the Hill Country in the North and East.

Addressing a media briefing in Batticaloa on Monday (1st), he urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to consider resettling Hill Country families currently living in uninhabitable conditions to these areas.

Prabakaran criticised former Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman, alleging that he wasted funds by consuming 500 kg of cashew nuts during his tenure instead of providing food for the people.

Highlighting that India had come forward to assist Sri Lanka during recent disasters, he asserted that no one has the right to speak against India.

He further claimed that the current government cannot be shaken for another 10 years.

Crack in Kotmale dam; Those who spread false information will be punished by law – President

Thinakaran, Virakesari

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake directed officials to take legal action against individuals spreading false information that causes public panic during disasters.

This directive follows a rumour circulated on social media regarding a crack in the Kotmale reservoir dam, which led to panic-stricken residents fleeing the area, resulting in fatalities.

The president issued these instructions during a Zoom discussion held with provincial governors yesterday (2nd).

It was noted that the false alarm stemmed from a standard safety siren sounded to open one sluice gate, and the Central Province governor confirmed that the provincial police chief has been ordered to investigate the incident.

Government’s cooperation is insufficient for rescue efforts — Kandy people express concern to Opposition MPs

Virakesari, Thamilan

A delegation of opposition MPs, including Mano Ganesan, Rauff Hakeem, and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, along with former MPs M.A. Sumanthiran and Dilum Amunugama, visited disaster-affected areas in Kandy and Gampola yesterday (2nd).

Residents in Ihala Gama and Mavathura informed the delegation that the government failed to assist in search operations for the 35 missing individuals, forcing the community to fund private machinery to recover the 22 bodies found so far.

They further alleged that government officials have not yet visited several affected locations, leaving families to fend for themselves.

Addressing displaced people at the Ganapathi Estate camp, MP Mano Ganesan asserted that they will negotiate with the government and India to secure land for housing, as returning to the landslide-prone areas is unsafe.

If the right to life is violated, it is a violation of the Constitution, UNP alleges, pointing to Supreme Court verdict

Virakesari

The UNP accused the government of failing to implement the National Disaster Management Plan under the Disaster Management Act, No. 13 of 2005, during the recent adverse weather conditions.

In a statement issued yesterday (2nd), the party alleged that the president failed to invoke Sections 11 and 12 of the act to declare a state of disaster, despite being aware of the cyclone’s potential impact on November 27.

The UNP highlighted that mandatory early warning protocols and coordination with technical institutions were ignored, which significantly increased the scale of destruction.

Citing the Supreme Court’s observation on the Easter Sunday attacks, the party asserted that failing to act to prevent harm during a crisis constitutes a violation of the fundamental right to life.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

“Will sue the government that did not take proper steps towards the disaster” – MP S.M. Marikkar

Dinamina

SJB MP S.M. Marikkar stated that legal action will be taken against the government regarding the lack of preparedness/action despite a prior warning about the adverse weather.

Marikkar made the statement while participating in a press conference held at the SJB Head Office on Monday (1st).

The roads that were affected to be built within 10 days – RDA

Dinamina

Director General of the Road Development Authority (RDA) K.W. Kandambi says that all roads damaged due to the disaster situation will be restored within 10 days.

Kandambi also mentioned that 102 roads and 15 main bridges have been damaged due to the floods and landslides that occurred in the past few days.

Saying that the work of removing earth mounds on some roads where traffic was hindered is currently nearing completion, Kandambi also stated that the necessary personnel have been deployed for this purpose in every area.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS