Major stories in the Sinhala and Tamil press: June 8 – June 14

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

Over the past week, the Sinhala and Tamil press converged in relation to five main stories. The five stories were on the: (i) detention of Suresh Sallay under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA); (ii) status of the country’s economy; (iii) enforcement of the law against politicians from past governments; (iv) escalation of the war between US-Israel and Iran; and (v) delay in holding the provincial council (PC) elections.

The Sinhala press exclusively featured two main stories, and they were on the: (i) alleged rise in political attacks against the government; and (ii) reported rise in dengue in the country.

The Tamil press exclusively featured four main stories, and they were on the: (i) demands for accountability and justice concerning past atrocities, including enforced disappearances and mass graves, including in Chemmani; (ii) demands to release Tamil rapper and singer HipHop Sangee, who was arrested under the PTA; (iii) problems faced by the Hill Country Tamil community and the increase in wages of plantation workers; and (iv) continued protests demanding the release of private land under state occupation in Valikamam North.