Major stories in the Sinhala and Tamil press: May 26 – Jun.1

Signposts the differences and nuances in reporting between Sinhala and Tamil language newspapers.

Over the past week the Sinhala and Tamil press converged in relation to five main stories. The five stories were on the: (i) ongoing discussions concerning the appointment of an auditor general; (ii) sentencing of former MPs Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando for misusing public funds; (iii) formation of alliances to take control of hung local government authorities; (iv) the death of Malini Fonseka; and (v) detection of a new COVID-19 variant in Sri Lanka. The Sinhala press exclusively featured two main stories, and they were on the: (i) impact of the prevailing inclement weather and (ii) reported rise in organised crime. The Tamil press exclusively featured two main stories, and they were on the: (i) calls to provide justice and post-war accountability for past atrocities committed against the minority communities and (ii) calls to withdraw the gazette pertaining to land acquisition in the North and East.