Major stories in the Sinhala and Tamil press: May 25 – June 7

Highlights the differences and nuances in reporting between Sinhala and Tamil newspapers.

Over the past two weeks, the Sinhala and Tamil press converged in relation to seven main stories. The seven stories were on the: (i) National Vesak Festival and alleged conspiracies against Buddhism; (ii) delays in holding the Provincial Council (PC) elections; (iii) risk of an economic crisis in the country; (iv) rise in the prices of essential goods; (v) ongoing investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks; (vi) ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran; and (vii) reported rise in accidents related to driving under the influence (DUI).

There were no stories featured exclusively in the Sinhala press.

The Tamil press exclusively featured four main stories, and they were on the: (i) reflections on the end of the war; (ii) demands for accountability and justice concerning past atrocities, including enforced disappearances and mass graves including in Chemmani; (iii) demands to release Tamil rapper and singer HipHop Sangee, who was arrested under the PTA for allegedly sharing social media content glorifying the LTTE; and (iv) problems faced by the Hill Country Tamil community and the increase in wages of plantation workers.