DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: The Budget to be presented today; Government announces long-term development is the goal | “We will take a tough decision regarding the Budget” – Shanakiyan MP announces Thinakaran: Budget 2026 to be presented on Friday, November 7, 2025; Priority this time for people-centric work; President’s speech in Parliament |
Thinakkural: Will relief be available? Will taxes not increase? The Budget is creating great anticipation! The President will submit it this afternoon | “‘Imposing conditions even before speaking?’ Not appropriate” – Suresh | Kolonna Pradeshiya Sabha Budget; first defeat for the Anura government Thamilan: Budget to be presented in Parliament today! Debate on the National People’s Power government’s second Budget from November 8 to December 5 |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Many benefits from the budget: state employee salaries to be increased by 30%? Pensions to be increased; no tax increments; no change to vehicle tax Divaina: Urban council member’s son has sold the drugs sent by his relative from Dubai: secrets of the Eppawala drug [trade] revealed; the principal also aware of the drug trade; NPP council member tenders resignation; court approval to detain and question the Eppawala principal; investigations into the properties of the principal; the father had brought the drugs that were hidden by the chef near the lake on directions from son Mawbima: Principal from Eppawala who was arrested with drugs to be held in detention for seven days; orders given to investigate into bank accounts and phone records; the wife, who is an urban council member, is a relative of ‘Kosgoda Sujee’ | Wife of the principal resigns as urban council member | The second budget of the NPP to be presented today
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Dinamina: Toward a production economy that leaves no one behind… The second budget of the NPP government to be presented today Aruna: Duration of school increased for grade five and above: classes to be held till 2:00 p.m.; two intervals Anidda: Sajith Premadasa states in India that the 13th Amendment must be completely enforced |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
“We welcome the ITAK’s ‘Alliance’ announcement; also attention on the next round of talks” – Democratic Tamil National Alliance
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran
Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) spokesperson and EPRLF leader Suresh Premachandran welcomed ITAK’s announcement to function again as the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Speaking in Jaffna, he noted that while the call is welcome, ITAK Spokesperson and General Secretary Sumanthiran has mentioned conditions, which he deemed inappropriate to set before talks.
He recalled that the EPRLF had previously left the TNA over disagreements on registering the alliance and adopting a common symbol.
Premachandran also urged the government to stop ruling the provinces via governors and to hold provincial council elections promptly after completing delimitation.
He further suggested that opposition MPs are requesting pistols due to security threats, noting the government has not provided protection, and called on the government to eliminate underworld gangs.
Investigations into the appeal applications for the Vithya murder case concludedThinakaran, Virakesari The Supreme Court, yesterday (6th), concluded hearings on the appeal petitions filed by the seven defendants, including ‘Swiss Kumar’, sentenced to death for the rape and murder of schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vithya. A five-judge Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, has indefinitely reserved the judgment. Lawyer Dharshana Kuruppu, appearing for the main defendant, ‘Swiss Kumar’, argued that the charges were baseless and no evidence confirmed his client’s involvement in the abduction. He also pointed to contradictions in witness testimonies, such as Vithya’s mother stating she went by bicycle while a neighbour said she travelled by bus, and noted that no video evidence of the incident was presented. The death sentences were originally issued by a three-judge bench of the Jaffna High Court in 2015, in a case that caused major controversy in the country. |
“We will take a tough decision regarding the budget” – Shanakiyan MP announces
Virakesari ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stated that they have been waiting for five months for a meeting with the President to discuss the basic problems of the Tamil people, but have yet to receive a reply. He warned that they will take a severe decision during the upcoming budget vote. Rasamanickam claimed that although Tamil people voted for the government with great expectations, it has failed to take any action to provide a stable solution for their basic and constitutional problems during the past year. He also noted that the President, who spoke much about the North and East during the election, had promised to release Tamil political prisoners, but now states there are none. |
“President orders the release of Maveerar Thuyilum Illams (LTTE cemeteries)” – Minister Chandrasekar statesThinakkural President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the Defence Secretary to release all Maveerar Thuyilum Illams (Great Heroes cemeteries) in the North and East currently held by the military. Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that due to this directive, all such cemeteries under military control will definitely be released in the future. Speaking at a press conference in Kilinochchi, he added that once released, arrangements will be made for the Tamil people to commemorate their children with more dignity than before. The Minister affirmed that the Tamil people have the full right to commemorate the ‘great heroes’. He also pointed out that lands belonging to the Tamil people are still under military control as high-security zones. |
Damage to an archaeological site; Chairperson of Neduntheevu (Delft) Pradeshiya Sabha and 6 others arrestedThinakkural The Neduntheevu Pradeshiya Sabha Chairperson and five others were arrested on charges of damaging an archaeological site at the Neduntheevu Vediyarasan Fort area. The arrests followed a complaint by the Department of Archaeology after the site was allegedly damaged during road construction work. Initially, two people involved in the project were arrested by the Neduntheevu Police. Subsequently, the chairperson, a Pradeshiya Sabha technical officer, and a contractor were among four others arrested. All six individuals were produced before the Kayts Magistrate yesterday (6th) and released on bail. The fort is reportedly associated with a Tamil king, and a previous controversy over a navy banner claiming its Buddhist history was also noted. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily News
‘Ratama Ekata’ Mission: 8,084 arrests out of 8,175 drug raids
Dinamina, Anidda
The Police Headquarters reports that 8,084 individuals have been apprehended in 8,175 drug raids conducted across the island during the week following the commencement of the national operation, ‘Ratama Ekata’ (A Nation United).
As part of the ongoing anti-drug prevention operation being executed by the Sri Lanka Police nationwide, acting on the directives of the Inspector General of Police, 1,053 raids were carried out on Wednesday (5th), resulting in the arrest of 980 suspects.
Detention orders have been secured for 19 of the suspects.
Furthermore, the police noted that four suspects have been directed toward rehabilitation.
“No new tax increments, this is a budget focused on development” – Nalinda JayatissaDivaina Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa said that the second budget of the NPP government, which will be presented to parliament today (7th), has no new tax increments just as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had stated previously. He stressed that this budget focuses largely on the development of the nation. |
ITAK and TPA will not be attending the Opposition rallyAnidda The ITAK and the TPA have decided not to attend the rally organised by the United Opposition on November 21 in Nugegoda. When inquired, ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam stated that the party has taken a unanimous decision not to attend the rally. MP Mano Ganesan also stated that the TPA has decided that they will not be participating in the opposition rally. Ganesan stated further that the National Union of Workers (NUW), led by MP Palani Thigambaram and the Up-Country People’s Front (UCPF), led by MP V.S. Radhakrishnan, will also not be joining the rally. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
The second budget of the NPP government to be presented today
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Five individuals belonging to the same family and residing in Makola, Kiribathgoda, drowned in the Deduru Oya yesterday (5th).
Senior Superintendent of Police Rohan Perera, in charge of the Chilaw Division, stated that the bodies of four people have been recovered.
He added that divers and villagers made tireless efforts late last night to find the one person still missing in the water.
The SSP stated that the deceased were between the ages of 16 and 17.
The group had traveled from Makola to Chilaw on a trip in the morning and had stopped to bathe in the Deduru Oya on their return journey.
The Police mentioned that a large board indicating that the location is unsafe has even been erected at the site.
It is reported that about 10 people who were bathing at the time began to drown, and local residents banded together to rescue the rest of the group.
Peliyagoda Urban Council NPP member resigns
Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Thinakkural, Thamilan
NPP member of the Peliyagoda Urban Council, Disna Niranjala Kumari, has resigned from her position as a member of the council following the arrest of her husband and son on drug-related charges.
Her letter of resignation was submitted yesterday (6th), and a copy of it has been sent to the Chief Secretary of the NPP as well.
The NPP member had tendered her resignation in order to provide assistance for the legal proceedings and as support for the program carried out by the government to establish a good political culture in the country.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Two individuals, including the principal, to be placed under seven-day detention – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural
2. NPP loses the budget in Kolonna – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Thinakkural
3. Duration of school increased for grade five and above: classes to be held till 2:00 p.m.; two intervals – Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Aruna, Thamilan
4. Sajith Premadasa states in India that the 13th Amendment must be completely enforced – Anidda,Thamilan
3. Sajith Premadasa requests for medicine from India – Mawbima, Thinakkural
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