Major stories in the Sinhala and Tamil press: August 10 – August 30

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

Over the past three weeks the Sinhala and Tamil press converged in relation to five main stories. The five stories were on the: (i) death of veteran singer Visharada Dr Nanda Malini; (ii) 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill; (iii) impact of El Niño on Sri Lanka; (iv) impact of the flash flood in Nepal; and (v) arrest and repatriation of organised crime leaders.

The Sinhala press exclusively featured two main stories, and they were on the (i) release of SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam on bail; and (ii) exploring the possibility of imposing the death penalty on drug traffickers.

The Tamil press exclusively featured four main stories, and they were on the: (i) exhumation of over 500 skeletal remains at the Chemmani mass grave site; (ii) ongoing protests in Valikamam North, Jaffna, and Keppapilavu, Mullaitivu, demanding the release of privately-owned lands; (iii) demands for accountability and justice concerning past atrocities, including enforced disappearances on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearancesand; and (iv) problems faced by the Hill Country Tamil community and the increase in wages of plantation workers.