Rochel Canagasabey

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[Verité Research @VeriteResearch]

Verité Media and Politics presents initiatives to strengthen media coverage on women

Deputy Minister receives a handbook on professional journalism and a proposal to revise outdated terminology in the Penal Code

Verité Media and Politics, a division of Verité Research, met with Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr Kaushalya Ariyarathne on Thursday (16) to present two initiatives aimed at strengthening professional and respectful reporting on women and girl-children in Sri Lanka.

The team presented A Handbook for Professional Journalism: Reporting on Women and Girl-children in Sri Lanka, developed with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The handbook helps journalists recognise recurring patterns in media coverage and exercise stronger professional judgement to ensure that reporting is accurate, fair, and respectful of the people who appear in the news.

Advocacy for legislative reform: Addressing outdated terminology

The team also handed over a concept note calling on the Government of Sri Lanka to amend the Penal Code by replacing the outdated and inappropriate Sinhala term “දූෂණය” (dooshanaya), currently used for the offence of rape, with more accurate and non-stigmatising terminology.

The proposal draws on more than a decade of research conducted by @EthicsEye - an independent media monitoring platform - and consultations with senior Sinhala-language academics and legal experts. It puts forward an alternative term for consideration as part of the proposed legislative amendment.

This proposal is an independent, self-funded team initiative by Verité Media and Politics.

Verité Media and Politics was represented by Head Deepanjalie Abeywardana, Team Leader @mahoshadi and Programme Lead @rochel3241.

They were accompanied by Namal Perera, Senior Policy Advisor – Political Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

Suresh Sallay and the intelligence apparatus: Patriotic service or protected status?

Swipe 👉to see how opinion pieces in Virakesari & Divaina discussed Sallay's detention

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

Protest demanding the release of lands in Valikamam North 🪧

Which Sinhala & Tamil TV channels covered the protest?

Swipe 👉to find out!

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

Suresh Sallay & the PTA: One law, two memories

Swipe 👉to see how editorials in Aruna & Virakesari discussed the PTA and Sallay's detention

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

Father Jeewantha's arrest: One story, two verdicts

Swipe 👉 to find out how Sathi Aga Aruna & Sunday Virakesari discussed his arrest

[Mikaa Blugeon-Mered @Mikaa_BM]

Mireille célébrée comme il se doit devant le Franprix avenue de Versailles, entrée côté Chardon Lagache. 🔴🔵⭐️⭐️

Amis des rédacs, faut montrer ce genre de vidéos aussi. Y'en a des tonnes. 😉

On compte sur vous ! 😘

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

17 years since the end of the war 🕯️

Swipe 👉to see how Sinhala & Tamil press front page headlines featured it today

#May18 #May19

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

17 years since the end of the war: Divided press, divided memory

Swipe 👉to see how editorials & opinion pieces in Divaina & Thamilan reflected on the end of the war

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

Commencement of the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Week🕯️& the distribution of Mullivaikkal Kanji

Which Sinhala & Tamil TV channels covered it?

Swipe 👉to find out!

[Nishan de Mel @NCdeMel]

What can we add to Lenin and Lalkantha?

Let's fast forward to the 2026 context in #SriLanka

Recent surveys show that it is not just child care

Elder care is more time consuming +overly restricted to the household and to women

Keeping manifesto promises +new policies can help.

[Verité Research @VeriteResearch]

Did you get fooled on April Fools' Day?

Here is a trick not to get fooled the next time you get a message of unknown origin

Always:

🔴Stop: Ask yourself: “Why should I believe this message?”
🟡Trace: Go to the link of the content creator’s page where it was published.
🟢Check: Is the website or social media handle that published it a credible source?

If you can’t stop, trace, and check — don’t share!

Check https://t.co/YY2gFGbu0z more information.

#srilanka

[ManthriLK @ManthriLK]

#SriLanka now has the highest number of women MPs in its @ParliamentLK history.👏

But how does this compare with other South Asian countries?

And has the increase in parliamentary representation translated into greater representation in the Cabinet?

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

Iranian ship rescue: Commended for rescue, confronted by past violations 🚢

Swipe 👉 to see how Sunday Mawbima and Sunday Thinakkural commented on the rescue of the Iranian crew

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

Polarised press positions on Provincial Councils

Here’s how Sunday Lankadeepa & Sunday Thamilan discussed:

1⃣ The NPP election delay: Fear of losing support or fear of sharing power?

2⃣ The role of governors: Keeping administration running or keeping representation out?

[Nishan de Mel @NCdeMel]

To keep pricing fuel on our cost recovery formula?
or not to--and give relief?

We hear this question a lot in #SriLanka with the global price shock triggered by war on Iran.

Good news! it's not a binary choice. Both are possible

1. Fully recover cost
2. Give relief to people

[Ethics Eye @EthicsEye]

Disasters affect entire communities, but not equally. 🌧️
As Sri Lanka recovers from Cyclone Ditwah, reporting must reflect how women and girl-children are disproportionately affected.
Otherwise, disaster coverage tells only part of the story.

[Kumanan @kumanan93]

A protest was held in front of the Kayts Police Station in Jaffna, organized by human rights activists and family members demanding justice for 17-year-old child Albino Arulpius, who was shot and killed by a police officer attached to the Kayts Police Station in Allaipiddy, Jaffna on 10 February 2026.

Marking one month since the incident, demonstrators called for the immediate arrest and legal action against those responsible for the killing. Protesters also urged authorities to conduct a transparent investigation, ensure accountability, and put an end to police brutality.

#Arulpius #SLPoliceBrutality

[The Media Analysis @verite_tma]

The arrest of Sallay: Cleaning house or covering tracks?

Here is how sister publications Sathi Aga Aruna & Sunday Thamilan discussed Sallay's arrest 👇

[Marlon Ariyasinghe @MarlonAriy]

Given the significant misinformation circulating about Iranian vessels near Sri Lankan waters following the attack on IRIS Dena, here is a verified timeline of events based on official statements from the Sri Lankan government:

26 February – Iran requested permission from Sri Lanka for three naval vessels to visit the country for a goodwill port call scheduled between 9–13 March. Since such visits take weeks to organize, the gov. was in discussion, also considering the geopolitical stakes.

27 February – The Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr informed Sri Lankan authorities of a medical emergency onboard. Sri Lankan forces responded and brought two Iranian personnel ashore for treatment.

4 March, a.m. – Sri Lankan authorities became aware that a vessel had been attacked off the southern coast. Shortly afterward, distress calls were received. Sri Lankan naval and air assets launched a search and rescue operation by 6am, rescuing 32 survivors and recovering 87 bodies (so far).

4 March – The Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr requested permission to enter a Sri Lankan port, either on 4 or 5 March.

5 March – Sri Lanka formally assumed responsibility for IRIS Bushehr and its crew. The vessel is being escorted to Trincomalee Port, while 208 crew members will be transferred to Colombo.

President @anuradisanayake had the following to say:

“We have followed a very clear and consistent stance, we act neither in favour of any state nor in subordination to any state. We followed international conventions, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.We act as a free and sovereign nation. We act on principle not pressure. Our intervention is decisive and humanitarian and in the interest of our nation and our people.”

Share information from official and credible sources, especially during times of crisis, conflict, or war. Misinformation can be extremely dangerous. Official press release attached.
Here is a link to the press conference:
https://t.co/fbsjMLP4VX

[Azzam Ameen @AzzamAmeen]

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the crew of the Iranian naval ship IRIS Bushehr near Sri Lanka’s territorial waters will be disembarked at Colombo Port.

He said the vessel will then be taken to Trincomalee Harbour, while the Sri Lanka Navy is making arrangements to bring the 208 personnel on board safely to Colombo.