Major stories in the Sinhala and Tamil press: July 13 – July 19

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

Over the past week, the Sinhala and Tamil press converged in relation to seven main stories. The seven stories were on the: (i) formation of a political alliance by six Tamil and Muslim parties; (ii) proposal to extend the retirement age of judges; (iii) protests by paddy farmers; (iv) investigations into the Negombo Prison violence; (v) escalation of the dengue epidemic; (vi) impact of the US-Israel and Iran war on Sri Lanka; and (vii) status of the country’s economy.

There were no stories featured exclusively in the Sinhala press.

The Tamil press exclusively featured four main stories, and they were on the: (i) exhumation of over 450 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; and (iv) problems faced by the Hill Country Tamil community and the increase in wages of plantation workers.