8 May 2025 | Vol. 11, #77

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: Majority of councils won by NPP; struggling to form administrations in 149 councils;
SJB wins in 14; ITAK dominates in the North and East; parties in intensive discussions to form administrations | ITAK is leading as a single party in the North; ACTC, DTNA, NPP, SJB and EPDP are dominant in some councils

Thinakaran: National People’s Power has 3,927 members; local government elections concluded peacefully without any incidents | “No alliance with anyone rejected by the people” – Mervyn Silva

Thinakkural: The NPP wins in 266 LG bodies including 23 municipal councils, 26 urban councils and 217 pradeshiya sabhas; the ITAK wins in 35 bodies; the SJB wins in 14 bodies |
The NPP can form an administration on its own only in 164 out of 266 bodies it has won; NPP’s situation is to look for parties to form administrations

Thamilan: India-Pakistan war on the edge of breaking out! India launches sudden attack in the middle of the night | Local Government Election 2025: Decline in popular support
for the National People’s Power; councils in the North are controlled by Tamil parties; Muslim parties are popular in the East; votes divided in Malayagam (Hill Country); talks to form alliances in many councils

Lankadeepa: Anura secures LG bodies in his grasp as well; NPP wins 265 councils; SJB wins 14; ITAK wins 37; NPP wins the Colombo Municipal Council as well, though establishing control is a crisis; the SLPP increases its votes 

Divaina: The NPP secures victory in 269 local bodies out of 339: wins the majority in 119 councils | “We will establish power in Colombo” – SJB general secretary | Who will be named for the seat of mayor of Colombo? Both sides race to establish power; although the NPP won, the majority goes to the Opposition; Balthazaar of the NPP vs Dr. Ruvaiz from the SJB | “We will not lean on other parties” – Dilith Jayaweera

Ada: NPP secures sole control over 116 local authorities; although the NPP secured the majority of votes in 120 local government bodies, other political parties and groups to take control with a majority of the seats 

Mawbima: The NPP secures 266 local government bodies; 4,503,930 votes; percentage recorded at 43%; SJB wins 14 councils; gaining control over 116 councils they have won has become a challenge for the NPP 

Dinamina: A historic victory: The NPP wins over 265 councils; 4,503,930 votes; 3,927 seats; the SLPP loses all 226 councils; the UNP and the SLPP have not secured a single council; the SJB wins 14 councils

Aruna: The NPP wins over 265 authorities; establishing power in 139 councils is in crisis

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only