9 December 2025 | Vol. 11, #221

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: A committee to monitor international aid was established under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna [Jayasekara] | Indian ship arrives in Trincomalee with 700 MT of aid

Thinakaran: Order to provide daily necessities without interruption; Vegetable production, water supply, and road renovations accelerated; President’s discussion at Nuwara Eliya District meeting | G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination; All remaining subjects will be conducted in January

Thinakkural: “New air circulation in the Southeast Bay of Bengal; Possibility of heavy rain in many areas until the 13th!; It is best to alert the public in the country” – says Professor Pradeeparajah | “The UN will fully support Sri Lanka” – Assures Marc-André [Franche], the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka | Be vigilant; Instruction to the people; Several departments are on alert

Thamilan: Warning of continuing rain; landslide warning extended; more than 1,000 schools affected

Lankadeepa: Mental distress is widespread among children who were affected by the storm: over 80% of surveyed children reported psychological impacts; nearly all displaced children showed fear; A Rs. 2.4 billion estimation to provide relief; 500,000 children affected; 1,185 schools damaged – UNICEF report states

Divaina: Rs. 130 million loss to the [Royal] Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya following the overflowing of the Mahaweli River; Rs. 80 million to restore Sangili Palama (Hanging Bridge); “Orchid House at the gardens completely destroyed” – Deputy Director

Mawbima: Floods lead to accumulation of unexpected mountain of garbage: management is difficult; laws to be relaxed | “Summon the government immediately” – MP Namal Rajapaksa writes to the PM

Dinamina: “National Committee for foreign aid management: Senior officials assigned several duties: weekly reports to embassies and media” – Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara | “No allowance will be given for unauthorised constructions” – President | “Do not keep the children in camps continuously” – President

Aruna: Police not mindful about court rulings to prevent torture of suspects – Supreme Court issues statement

Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

“Don’t push the Malayaga people into landslides again” – Shanakiyan MP urges

Thinakkural

ITAK MP R. Shanakiyan asserted that it is the opposition’s duty to question the government if the president fails to fulfil the promises made in his report within six months.

Speaking during a relief distribution event in Valaichchenai, he welcomed the president’s pledge to provide alternative housing for those in disaster-prone areas and urged the government to extend this protection to families living near riverbanks in his district.

Shanakiyan clarified that while opposition MPs lack the executive authority to construct houses, their responsibility is to advocate for the people and negotiate with the government to secure their rights and resources.

He further emphasised that granting land rights and safe housing to the people of the Hill Country would solve a long-standing issue, adding that the opposition is willing to cooperate with the government if it acts according to the president’s report.

Jaffna University Vice-Chancellor Election: Act with integrity: Score fairly – UGC

Thinakkural

The University Grants Commission (UGC) instructed the external council members of the University of Jaffna to award points based on merit and honesty during the special council meeting scheduled for today (9th) to select three nominees for the post of vice-chancellor.

This directive was issued during a meeting held yesterday (8th), chaired by UGC Chair Senior Prof. Kapila Seneviratne, to clarify the selection circular and avoid procedural complications.

While addressing concerns regarding the disputed voting rights of a dean, the UGC maintained that the university must resolve such internal issues independently.

An official observer has been appointed for today’s meeting, following which the names of the top three candidates will be submitted to the president for the final appointment.

“The destruction of the Chemmani memorial is a death knell for democracy” – Minister Chandrasekar

Thinakaran

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar strongly condemned the vandalism of the unextinguished-flame memorial in Chemmani, describing the act as a death knell against social unity and democracy.

In a statement, he emphasised that the memorial serves as a crucial symbol reflecting the emotions and historical memories of the affected people, while characterising the mindset of the perpetrators as distorted.

The minister confirmed that instructions have been issued to relevant officials to identify the culprits and take appropriate action.

He further asserted that the peace and social unity in Jaffna cannot be disrupted by such negative forces and stressed the need for public cooperation to prevent similar incidents.

“How to provide Rs. 300 billion in compensation with Rs. 120 billion?” – Former Minister Rajitha’s question

Virakesari

Former MP Rajitha Senaratne stated yesterday (8th) that the government requires Rs. 300 billion to provide the promised compensation to disaster victims, despite only possessing Rs. 120 billion.

Speaking at former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political office in Colombo, he warned that this pledge should not become the second episode of the government’s election-time fairy tales.

Senaratne criticised the government for ignoring early warnings from the Department of Meteorology and international media regarding the heavy rains, claiming that 80% of the damage could have been prevented with proper precautions.

He further noted that 10% of the population has been affected and questioned the financial viability of the compensation scheme, given the decline in national production.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

“Ditwah landslides have destroyed 131,743 hectares of [agricultural] land” – Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture

Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Dinamina

Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, D.P. Wickremasinghe, stated that 131,743 hectares of high and low-lying agricultural lands have been destroyed due to the disaster.

Wickremasinghe made this statement while joining a press conference held at the Govijana Mandiraya (Ministry of Agriculture) yesterday (8th).

He said that this figure includes 108,000 hectares of paddy fields, 6,600 hectares of corn, 2,613 hectares of upcountry vegetable cultivation, 3,530 hectares of low-country vegetable cultivation, and 11,000 hectares of other crops.

Speaking further, Wickremasinghe added that 615,000 hectares of paddy cultivation were cultivated in the country.

He further added that 108,000 hectares of this have been completely damaged.

Two PCs withdraw from the substandard medicine case against 12, including Keheliya Rambukwella

Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina

Two Presidents’ Counsel appearing for the defence in the case filed against 12, including former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, recently informed the court that they would no longer be able to appear for their clients.

The Presidents’ Counsel who withdrew from the court proceedings are Sarath Jayamanna and Nalin Ladduwahetty.

They had been appearing on behalf of the 2nd and 12th defendants in the case.

The Presidents’ Counsel stated in open court that their decision to withdraw was because the court had decided to take up the case for daily hearing, making it difficult for them to be involved in this task and gather evidence alongside other cases they have undertaken.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS