DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Rain returns to many areas; The number of affected people exceeds 1.8 million; Landslide risk warning extended | Budget likely to be passed unanimously today | Supplementary estimate of Rs. 50 billion; Decision taken at special cabinet meeting to allocate funds for disaster recovery Thinakaran: “Rs. 10,290 million as initial funding to rebuild normal life; Distribution under the supervision of District Secretaries; Rs. 1,872 million for the Northern Province; A crowd pursuing power even amidst a disaster” – Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar | USD 350 million in the Extended Fund Facility; Aid within two weeks | The third reading of the Budget today |
Thinakkural: Red alert for many districts; The grave danger has not yet passed in the Hill Country! Continued risk of landslides | “Permanent solution needed for people living in dangerous areas” – The President Thamilan: Disaster deaths exceed 500! Fear that the ongoing rain may impact rescue operations |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Two weeks to calculate disaster damages: World Bank to also extend support; damages caused to 2,77,877 buildings, 115 km of the railroad, 483 river banks and 1,936 canals | Landslide risk: 20 families in Haldummulla evacuated Divaina: Body of a navy soldier that went missing, found: mission to locate bodies of the other four soldiers continues | “No directives given to use emergency regulations against social media and political control” – Minister Ananda Wijepala Mawbima: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage
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Dinamina: IMF: Sixth tranche of USD 350 million to be expected in two weeks | Pictorial: Sri Pada: Sacred footprint washed with perfumed water Aruna: A landslide in Mahagiridambaya: limit visits until recommendations are imposed – National Building Research Organisation requests Anidda: Police take the sword of emergency regulations to hand following Watagala’s directives: 57 investigations launched without complaints |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ministry of Fisheries Website
“Rs. 10,290 million as initial funding to rebuild normal life; Distribution under the supervision of District Secretaries; Rs. 1,872 million for the Northern Province; A crowd pursuing power even amidst a disaster” – Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar
Thinakaran
Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that Rs. 10,290 million has been allocated as the first phase to rebuild the lives of those affected by the recent disaster, with Rs. 1,872 million designated for the Northern Province.
He noted that the funds, allocated by the president, will be distributed under the supervision of district secretaries, with the Mannar District receiving the highest allocation of Rs. 954 million due to the severe impact in the area.
The minister highlighted that while casualties were low in the North, the agriculture and livestock sectors faced significant losses, including the death of approximately 15,000 livestock in Mannar.
Furthermore, he emphasised the government’s commitment to recovery despite economic challenges and criticised the opposition for attempting to gain political advantage from the situation.
Tamil parties meet Deputy High Commissioner; Seek Indian assistance to protect the North
Thinakkural Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) Spokesperson Suresh Premachandran stated that representatives of Tamil political parties, including ITAK President C.V.K. Sivagnanam and DTNA member Dharmalingam Siddharthan, met with Indian Consul General Sai Murali in Jaffna to discuss the impact of the recent cyclone and floods. Premachandran noted that they submitted a letter outlining the needs of the people in the Northern Province and discussed immediate relief measures for the severe losses in Mullaitivu and Mannar, alongside strategies for future disaster prevention. He expressed gratitude for the relief provided by the Indian government and welcomed the offer of assistance from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, emphasising that the Vanni population faces a significant burden due to repeated displacements. |
Great tension in the protest against the Thaiyiddy Vihara; Police remove the tentThinakkural The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) staged a protest in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna, on Thursday, demanding the removal of the illegally constructed Tissa Raja Maha Vihara and the immediate return of occupied lands to their rightful owners. The demonstration, attended by TNPF General Secretary and former MP Selvarajah Kajendren and Media Spokesperson K. Sugash, turned tense when police intervened as protesters attempted to demonstrate near an alternative route used by worshippers on Poya day. A heated argument ensued, leading to a 30-minute scuffle during which police officers forcibly dismantled and confiscated a temporary tent erected by the demonstrators. |
Pakistani aircraft arrives with emergency relief aidThinakaran A Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft arrived in the country carrying emergency relief supplies and a special rescue team, dispatched under the directive of Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to assist those affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka officially handed over the consignment, which includes 47 rescue personnel and 6.5 MT of essential items, to Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku. The relief stock consists of tents, blankets, life jackets, boats, water pumps, milk powder, processed foods, and essential medicines. It was further reported that Pakistan Navy ships and helicopters are already actively engaged in relief operations across the island. |
“Rs. 19,000 crore (190 billion) damage to roads due to the disaster” – Road Development Authority statesThinakkural Road Development Authority (RDA) Director General Wimal Kandambi stated that the damage to the highway network is estimated at Rs. 190 billion following Cyclone Ditwah, which caused approximately 500 deaths and affected over 1.5 million people. While expressways sustained minimal damage, the Kandy District was completely isolated as all access roads were severed, and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is currently assessing damages to the power grid. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: ONLANKA
Police take the sword of emergency regulations to hand following Watagala’s directives: 57 investigations launched without complaints
Anidda, Aruna
Anidda reports that the police have commenced 57 investigations into incidents of mud-slinging or defamatory social media content against selected members of the political authority, including the president.
Reportedly, the police have launched these investigations following a statement made by Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Sunil Watagala that baseless statements are being hurled, targeting a selected few in the political authority including the president, through social media or any other medium, and that severe punishment must be imposed against the persons who do so, utilising the emergency regulations currently in force.
Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler, stated that 57 such investigations have been launched without any complaints.
“No directives given to use emergency regulations against social media and political control” – Minister Ananda WijepalaDivaina Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala stated that the police have not been given any directives to enforce emergency regulations (ER) against social media and political control. He added that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed the police to enforce ERs only in instances of misleading/false/malicious rumours/statements aimed at disrupting public confidence and undermining emergency operations. |
“Cannot face this disaster with the presented Budget: we will need at least Rs. 400–500 billion more” – MP Harsha de SilvaAnidda, Dinamina Dinamina reports quoting Colombo District SJB MP Harsha de Silva that initial assessments indicate the total economic loss to Sri Lanka resulting from Cyclone Ditwah could be USD 3 billion or USD 6 billion. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday (3rd), de Silva also stated that it is necessary to accurately estimate the destruction caused by the disaster situation that affected Sri Lanka. Anidda reports quoting de Silva that the country cannot face the destruction from the disaster with the Budget that has been presented by the government. He stated that at least Rs. 400 – Rs. 500 billion more would be necessary to rebuild the country. |
Sri Lanka receives Rs. 2,550 million in aid from other countries
Dinamina
Sri Lanka has received Rs. 2,550 million (USD 8.5 million) in emergency life-saving assistance from several countries to provide relief to the people affected by the adverse weather conditions experienced in recent days.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the United States, China, Australia, as well as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), among many other countries and organisations, have provided financial assistance for the relief programme aimed at the disaster-stricken population in Sri Lanka.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
Third reading and final vote on the Budget scheduled for today
Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
The vote on the third reading debate of the 2026 Budget is scheduled to take place today (5th) at 6:00 p.m.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, presented the 2026 Budget to Parliament on November 7.
The second reading debate on the Budget commenced on November 8 and continued for six days until November 14. The corresponding vote on the second reading was held on November 14.
Subsequently, the third reading of the 2026 Budget, or the Committee Stage debate, began on November 15.
Seventeen days were allocated for the Committee Stage debate, but due to the disaster situation that struck the country, the debate could not be held on two of those days.
Accordingly, the party leaders on the Parliamentary Business Committee have decided to approve the expenditure heads of the relevant ministries scheduled for debate on those days without discussion.
IMF: Sixth tranche of USD 350 million to be expected in two weeks
Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that Sri Lanka is expected to receive the sixth tranche of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), amounting to approximately USD 350 million, within the next two weeks.
This disclosure was made during a meeting held at the Ministry of Finance, which was co-chaired by Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe and Secretary to the Treasury Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma.
The meeting was specifically convened to gather diplomatic missions, bilateral and multilateral development partners, and international lending institutions to assess the situation following Cyclone Ditwah and to coordinate aid for relief, rescue, and reconstruction activities.
The representatives present reaffirmed their commitment to providing support to Sri Lanka during this critical period.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “Cyclone causes major damage to transport, agriculture, power, and telecommunication services” – Essential Services Commissioner General – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari
2. Death toll in disaster rises to 481: 345 missing – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. “A permanent solution is necessary to prevent a disaster like this from happening again” – President states before officers of the Ministry of Finance and National Housing Development Authority – Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakaran
4. “Use this Christmas to help those who were struck by the disaster” – Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith – Divaina, Thamilan
5. ADB gives urgent humanitarian aid of USD 3 million to Sri Lanka – Divaina, Thinakaran
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