Major stories in the Sinhala and Tamil press: September 7 – September 13

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 six main stories. The six stories were on the: (i) arrest of Namal Rajapaksa and the holding of the SLPP rally in Anuradhapura September 12; (ii) completion of two years of the NPP government and rallies held island-wide to mark the anniversary; (iii) 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill; (iv) impact of El Niño on Sri Lanka; (v) enforcement of the law against organised criminals and drug traffickers; and (vi) government’s economic trajectory.

The Sinhala press exclusively featured one main story, and it was on the anniversary celebrations of the UNP and the SLFP.

The Tamil press exclusively featured six 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; (iv) problems faced by the Hill Country Tamil community and the increase in wages of plantation workers; (v) 63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC); and (vi) investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks.