DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
|
Virakesari: “You will deeply regret sinking the ship”: Iran’s foreign minister warns the US | 90 bodies recovered from the Iranian vessel that was sunk; Iran requests repatriation | Proceed with talks: Vijitha [Herath] requests the Iranian foreign minister | “One of three Iranian ships that returned after travelling to India has gone missing; the government remains silent on the permission granted for the other vessel” – Strong allegation by Wimal Weerawansa Thinakaran: The government holds discussions with regional countries on Indian Ocean security and regional stability; Minister Nalinda Jayatissa urges not to misuse the Middle East crisis | Indian bases were not used to attack the Iranian vessel, India publicly declares | “The war cannot be ended quickly due to strong Iranian resistance” – US secretary of war | “Avoid cross-border fishing until the tense situation ends; steps underway to secure the release of arrested fisherfolk” – Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar |
Thinakkural: “If permission is granted for the Iranian vessel anchored near Panadura waters, there will be an airstrike on Colombo” – Wimal Weerawansa alleges, citing US threat | “Did a US submarine enter Sri Lanka’s territorial waters? The government must clarify to the country” – Duminda Nagamuwa | “What is happening in Sri Lanka’s waters? Is the government hiding the truth?” – Sajith questions Thamilan: The Iranian vessel creates diplomatic tension for Colombo | The war continues in the Gulf region; death toll in Iran surpasses 1,000 | Attack on US oil tanker – Iran launches a swift retaliatory strike | The US will regret it! – Iran warns |
Sinhala Headlines
|
Lankadeepa: “[The government] to take charge of the Iranian vessel and take it to the Trincomalee Port: Sailors to Welisara; Sri Lanka will not allow itself to be used for any conflict; we are not subordinate to any country; humanity is number one; we work according to international conventions” — The president Divaina: Another Iranian vessel with 300 children aboard requests to be docked in Sri Lanka for 24 hours | [Iran] requests the repatriation of the bodies of the Iranian sailors to Tehran | Iran attacks an American oil vessel: 20,000 sailors stranded in the Hormuz Strait: Israel attacks Iran with 5,000 bombs; even the Senate fails to stop Trump | Sister-duo who attempted to murder the brother-in-law of Karandeniya Sudda to avenge the lawyer murder, arrested in Makola: Believed to be a part of the Kanjipani gang; an innocent individual almost killed having being mistaken for the said brother-in-law |
Dinamina: Sallay named the third suspect in the Easter Sunday attack – The CID informs the Court Aruna: “The Iranian ship that was off the shores of Colombo, to be taken to the Trincomalee Port: The 208 people who were on board, brought to Colombo: We are following a neutral policy” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Anidda: An electricity crisis may arise in April, June and July — PUCSL report states |
[paywall layout_id=”1906″ service_tags=”TMA,FP” preview=”true”]
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
Sallay supplied weapons to the Islamic Centre; MP Shanakiyan calls for investigation
Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam urged the minister of public security to conduct a formal investigation into weapons allegedly supplied by former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay to the “Islamic Centre” organisation.
Speaking in parliament yesterday (5th), the MP claimed that these weapons were issued while Sallay was serving in the intelligence unit in the Eastern Province. Rasamanickam stated that he would personally submit details to the minister regarding the weapons provided to the group and those subsequently returned.
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala noted that a detailed response would be provided today (6th).
Where are the Tamil children handed over to Shiranthi after the war? ITAK MP Shritharan demands answers
Virakesari. Thinakkural
Speaking in parliament yesterday (5th) during the adjournment debate on International Women’s Day, ITAK MP S. Shritharan questioned the fate of several Tamil children allegedly handed over to former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa at the end of the war. The Jaffna District MP urged the government to investigate the disappearances alongside other wartime atrocities.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
“[The government] to take charge of the Iranian vessel and take it to the Trincomalee Port: Sailors to Welisara; Sri Lanka will not allow itself to be used for any conflict; we are not subordinate to any country; humanity is number one; we work according to international conventions” — The president
Lankadeepa, Aruna
Speaking at a special media briefing held yesterday (5th), President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that Sri Lanka will take charge of the Iranian vessel that is off the shores of Panadura in Sri Lanka, and that measures are being taken to safely escort the 208 crew members on board the Iranian vessel Bushehr to the port of Colombo.
The president also added that Sri Lanka will not allow itself to be used for any conflict and that Sri Lanka is not subordinate to any country. Dissanayake further stated that Sri Lanka has taken a neutral position and stressed that humanity comes first. The president also emphasised that Sri Lanka will follow international conventions when handling such matters.
Karapitiya Hospital filled with the bodies of the Iranians killed in the attack: Issues arise with storing bodies | Food collected for the Iranians being treated at KarapitiyaLankadeepa, Aruna Around 95 bodies of the Iranian sailors who were killed in the torpedo attack carried out by the US off the coast of Galle were brought and stored at the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle. Lankadeepa highlights that hospital authorities were facing difficulties in storing the bodies owing to the lack of sufficient refrigerators, as the hospital only has 17 refrigerators. The newspaper further reports that the hospital had requested the Ministry of Health for a container to store the bodies. Meanwhile, Aruna reports that food, beverages, equipment, and other items required for the Iranians receiving treatment under heavy security at the Galle Karapitiya Hospital are being collected in large quantities. Although the people of the Galle area are carrying out the relevant collections, permission has not been granted by the police or security forces to provide those goods and food items to the Iranians. |
“Black smoke is being released from Norochcholai due to the substandard coal” – SJB MP Hector AppuhamyDivaina, Anidda Divaina reports quoting Puttalam District SJB MP Hector Appuhamy that black smoke is being emitted from one of the chimneys of the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai due to the substandard coal that is being used. The MP added that the said black smoke has strongly engulfed the area. Anidda adds that the process of generating electricity at the power plant has also malfunctioned. It further reports that the black smoke being emitted is polluting the environment surrounding the power plant. |
An electricity crisis may arise in April, June and July — PUCSL report states
Anidda
Citing its recent commission report, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) stated that there is a risk of a power crisis occurring in April, June and July this year due to the use of inferior quality coal affecting generation capacity at the Lakvijaya Power Plant. The commission stated that the risk to the continuous electricity supply was assessed based on the peak demand forecast submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for 2026.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily News
“There is another Iranian vessel close to Sri Lankan waters: The government is working toward [maintaining] peace in the Indian Ocean” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa states while responding to Sajith Premadasa in parliament
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa stated in parliament yesterday (5th) that there is another Iranian ship located in the Exclusive Economic Zone close to Sri Lankan waters and that the government is intervening to the maximum extent to protect those lives.
The minister added that the government knows more information regarding this incident than the opposition leader, and that they are making the necessary interventions to protect regional peace and to minimise the loss of lives.
Jayatissa made these remarks while responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa regarding the Iranian vessel that was attacked and the reported presence of a second Iranian vessel close to Sri Lanka.
Additionally, the Tamil Press highlights that the government is coordinating with regional partners to maintain Indian Ocean security and territorial integrity.
Sallay named the third suspect in the Easter Sunday attack – The CID informs the Court
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Thinakkural
The CID informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay, who is currently being detained and questioned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), has been named the third suspect in the investigations pertaining to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Sallay was arrested on February 25, 2026, and is currently being held and questioned under a 90-day detention order. The case was taken up yesterday (5th) following the filing of a motion to update the court on the progress of the investigation.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “The US will come to bitterly regret this heinous crime” — Iranian foreign minister on X – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thamilan
2. “Do not go beyond Sri Lankan waters” – Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar – Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Thinakaran
3. “We will attack Iran” – Trump wins the Senate vote – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thinakaran
4. Iran requests the return of all bodies from IRIS Dena to Tehran – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Virakesari
5. “The Iranian vessel had been in Sri Lankan waters for 11 hours before being attacked” – SJB MP Mujibur Rahman– Anidda, Thamilan
6. “It is not easy to defeat Iran: Although Trump says the [war] campaign will last four weeks, around eight weeks are needed to end it” – US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth – Lankadeepa, Thinakaran
7. Iran attacks an American oil vessel: 20,000 sailors stranded in the Hormuz Strait; Israel attacks Iran with 5,000 bombs; even the Senate fails to stop Trump – Divaina, Thamilan
[/paywall]