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Home , Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka), Daily News (Sri Lanka), Dinamina, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Leader Publications

24/2, 28t h La n e , Off Flowe r Roa d , Colom bo 7, Sri La n ka Tel: 94-11-2565304 / 94-11-256530z6 / 94-11-5552746, Fax: 94-11-4714460 E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.cpalanka.org

Media Unit Monitoring media coverage of Presidential election November 2005

Compiled by Sunanda Deshapriya & Sisira Kannangara

First week from nomination: 8th-15th October Monitored news papers: 11 dailies, 17 weeklies Number of issues monitored: 94

State media - Monitored :

Dailies: (Sinhala language), (), (English language);

W eeklies: (Sinhala language), Thinakaran Vaaramanjaree (Tamil language), Sunday Observer (English language);

• The three state owned dailies - Dinamina, Thinakaran and Daily News - had the lowest Unfavorable coverage of total election coverage on Mahinda Rajapakse, respectively 1.14, 00% and 1.82%. The same newspapers had the highest Favorable coverage given to any candidate by same language daily news paper, in these instances to Mahinda Rajapakse. - Dinamina (43.56%), Thinakaran (56.21%) and Daily News (29.32%). • The three state dailies had the highest Unfavorable coverage of the Ranil W ickramasinghe, of any daily news paper. Dinamina had 28.82%. Thinkaran had 8.67% and Daily News had 12.64%. • Their Favorable coverage of Ranil W ickramasinghe, was 10.75%, 5.10% and 11.13% respectively. • The state owned dailies and weeklies had 04 front page Lead stories and 02 Editorials in favor of Mahinda Rajapakse, while 02 Editorials and 03 front page Lead stories were Unfavorable to Ranil Wickramasinghe.

State media coverage of two main candidates (in sq.cm% of total election coverage) Mahinda Rajapakshe Ranil W ickramasinghe Newspaper Favorable Unfavorable Favorable Unfavorable Dinamina 43.56 1.14 10.75 28.88 Silumina 28.82 10.65 18.41 30.65 Daily news 29.22 1.82 11.13 12.64 Sunday Observer 23.24 00 12.88 00.81 Thinakaran 56.21 00 03.41 00.43 Thi. Vaaramanjary 32.25 00 00 00

Monitoring Presidential Election Coverage Nov. 2005 Page 1 of 3 Media Unit, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Non-state media

Monitored Newspapers: W ijeya Group - , Iridada Lankadeepa (Sinhala), , The Sunday Times (English); Upali Group - , Irida Divaina, (Sinhala), , The Sunday Island (English); Sumathi Group - , Irida Lakbima (Sinhala); Publications œ Ravaya (Sinhala); Lanka Multi Publishers œ Lanka (Sinhala); - (English weekly) Irudina (Sinhala weekly) Moniing Leader (Mid week) Thinakural Publications - , Gnairy Thinakkural (Tamil); Express Newspapers - , Virakesari Vaaraveledu (Tamil); Udayan Publications - Sudaroli (Tamil);

• Five none state mainstream newspapers - Sunday Times, Irida Lankadeepa, Irida Divaina, Irida Lakbima and Divaina had altogether more favorable coverage to Mahinda Rajapakse.

• Leader Publications: had no unfavorable coverage to Ranil Wickramasinghe. All unfavorable coverage was on Mahinada Rajapakse. Some of the unfavorable coverage was on corruptions issues.

• IRUDINA: had highest coverage on any category having 67.65% unfavorable coverage to Mahinada Rajapakse, while Lanka was close second having 55.47% unfavorable to Ranil Wickramasinghe.

• Lanka: had No unfavorable coverage to Mahnida Rajapakse.

• Ravaya had the highest Favorable coverage on other candidates (19.30% ) and its favorable coverage to Ranil Wickramasinghe was more than double its favorable coverage to Mahinda Rajapakse (34.55% & 15.21%).

• Number of the non states dailies had similar Favorable coverage of the Mahinda R. and Ranil W. (The Island - 18.42% & 17.92%; Lankadeepa - 24.41% & 22.27%; Lakbima - 28.82%; 28.92% Daily Mirror -14.74% & 15.42%)

• All none state Tamil newspapers had altogether favorable coverage to Ranil W. than Mahinda R.

• Coverage of other candidates was none existent or minimal.

• Except Thinakarn Vaaramanjary, Sudaroli, Lanka and Irudina all newspapers monitored had covered Election commissioner / election dept.

• Coverage on election violence was minimal, a marked difference from previous elections.

Monitoring Presidential Election Coverage Nov. 2005 Page 2 of 3 Media Unit, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) None state media coverage of two main candidates (in sq.cm% of total election coverage)

Mahinda Rajapakshe Ranil W ickramaasinghe Newspaper favorable unfavorable favorable unfavorable Lankadeepa 24.41 15.73 22.28 02.05 Irida 14.86 02.86 15.45 08.12 Lankadeepa Daily Mirror 14.74 06.41 15.42 00.66 Sunday Times 23.24 00.00 12.88 00.81

Divaina 32.37 03.28 22.02 05.40 Irida Divaina 15.58 00.00 14.34 09.66 The Island 18.42 05.99 17.92 00.83 Sunday Island 00.85 03.53 14.81 00.00

Lakbima 28.82 01.93 28.92 02.04 Irida Lakbima 12.33 00.00 08.91 02.18

Thinakkrual 15.76 10.02 24.34 1.88 Gnairu 14.89 3.38 26.38 00.00 Thinankkural

Virakesri 16.23 9.70 35.46 0.59 Virakesari 2.96 19.44 25.44 00.00 Vaaraveledu

Sunday Leader 01.53 48.68 05.54 00.00

Morning 07.55 14.43 08.21 00.00 Leader Irudina 14.35 67.65 03.64 00.00

Sudar oli 13.48 13.45 27.89 1.99 Sunday Sudar 00.00 00.00 00.00 80.20 oli

Ravaya 15.21 04.06 34.55 00.00

Lanka 21.37 00.00 11.08 55.46

Monitoring Presidential Election Coverage Nov. 2005 Page 3 of 3 Media Unit, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Total area used for election-related news, features, editorials, cartoons & photo in daily newspapers 08th to 15th October

Mahinda Ranil Other Candidates Voter Election Newspaper LTTE F UF F UF F UF Issues Official Sq.cm 26192.75 682.75 6462.00 17367.25 140.25 193.75 935.50 Dinamina % 43.56 1.14 10.75 28.88 0.00 0.00 0.23 0.32 1.56 Sq.cm 12759.25 774.00 2352.00 97.75 140.25 2809.00 Thinakaran % 56.21 0.00 3.41 10.36 0.43 0.00 0.00 0.62 12.37 Sq.cm 5222.00 324.50 1982.25 2252.00 871.50 1257.00 Daily News % 29.32 1.82 11.13 12.64 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.89 7.06 Sq.cm 9505.75 6125.25 8677.25 799.00 80.00 519.25 898.00 2729.75 Lankadeepa % 24.41 15.73 22.28 2.05 0.21 0.00 1.33 2.31 7.01 Sq.cm 5328.75 2316.50 5572.50 240.00 560.25 76.00 1562.25 Daily Mirror % 14.74 6.41 15.42 0.66 1.55 0.00 0.21 0.00 4.32 Sq.cm 10409.25 1055.50 7081.25 1736.75 312.50 72.00 161.50 2385.25 Divaina % 32.03 3.25 21.79 5.34 0.96 0.00 0.22 0.50 7.34 Sq.cm 3807.50 1237.50 3705.00 172.50 796.00 387.75 1712.25 The Island % 18.42 5.99 17.92 0.83 3.85 0.00 0.00 1.88 8.28 Sq.cm 13209.00 884.25 13255.00 935.50 1525.50 143.50 1587.00 1592.25 Lakbima % 28.82 1.93 28.92 2.04 3.33 0.31 3.46 0.00 3.47 Sq.cm 4609.25 2930.75 7117.50 550.25 475.50 1677.75 118.75 2491.25 Thinakkural % 15.76 10.02 24.34 1.88 1.63 0.00 5.74 0.41 8.52 Sq.cm 5718.75 3419.25 12494.50 209.00 1825.25 451.00 446.50 3993.25 Veerkesari % 16.23 9.70 35.46 0.59 5.18 0.00 1.28 1.27 11.33 Sq.cm 4804.25 4796.25 9941.75 710.00 1913.75 112.50 2663.25 % 13.48 13.45 27.89 1.99 5.37 0.00 0.00 0.32 7.47 Total area used for election-related news, features, editorials, cartoons & photo in daily newspapers 08th to 15th October Free & Other Election & Election Social NEWSPAPER Fair Election Developments Peace Total Violence Issues Election Related Process Sq.cm 203.25 444.00 2030.50 3251.50 2228.50 60132.00 Dinamina % 0.34 0.74 3.38 5.41 3.71 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 632.75 689.25 2447.00 22701.25 Thinakaran % 2.79 3.04 10.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 152.00 921.00 4054.00 517.50 77.50 180.50 17811.75 Daily News % 0.85 5.17 22.76 2.91 0.44 1.01 100.00 Sq.cm 934.00 1005.00 4756.50 432.00 1590.75 889.25 38941.75 Lankadeepa % 2.40 2.58 12.21 1.11 4.08 2.28 100.00 Sq.cm 666.50 2744.75 13483.25 360.00 1304.00 1928.00 36142.75 Daily Mirror % 1.84 7.59 37.31 1.00 3.61 5.33 100.00 Sq.cm 336.00 1934.50 4977.25 2035.00 32496.75 Divaina % 1.03 5.95 15.32 0.00 6.26 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 1206.00 673.75 4859.50 142.50 673.20 1302.00 20675.45 The Island % 5.83 3.26 23.50 0.69 3.26 6.30 100.00 Sq.cm 698.75 1652.25 6939.00 1687.50 1401.00 330.00 45840.50 Lakbima % 1.52 3.60 15.14 3.68 3.06 0.72 100.00 Sq.cm 288.50 955.00 7384.25 330.50 312.00 29241.25 Thinakkural % 0.99 3.27 25.25 0.00 1.13 1.07 100.00 Sq.cm 280.25 1085.00 4601.25 712.00 35236.00 Veerkesari % 0.80 3.08 13.06 2.02 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 728.25 519.00 8948.75 189.00 323.75 35650.50 Sudar Oli % 2.04 1.46 25.10 0.00 0.53 0.91 100.00 Total area used for Election-related News, Features, Editorials, Cartoons & Photos in weekly newspapers of 09th October Election Newspaper Mahinda Ranil Other Candidates LTTE Voter Issues F UF F UF F UF Official Sq.cm 2854.25 1054.50 1823.25 3036.00 473.50 572.25 Silumina % 28.82 10.65 18.41 30.65 4.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.78 Sq.cm 1066.75 Thinakaran vaaramanjary % 35.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Sq.cm 1813.50 1005.50 63.00 1726.75 Sunday Observer % 23.24 0.00 12.88 0.81 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 22.13 Sq.cm 1618.75 312.00 1692.75 884.00 907.50 866.00 Irida Lankadeepa % 14.86 2.86 15.54 8.12 0.00 0.00 8.33 0.00 7.95 Sq.cm 242.00 1136.00 458.50 1664.00 200.00 497.00 Sunday Times % 4.04 18.98 7.66 0.00 0.00 0.00 27.81 3.34 8.31 Sq.cm 2058.25 1893.75 1276.25 77.25 546.00 2694.00 176.00 Divaina Irida Sangrahaya % 15.58 0.00 14.34 9.66 0.58 0.00 4.13 20.40 1.33 Sq.cm Divamina % #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Sq.cm 61.25 253.50 1064.50 184.00 Sunday Island % 0.85 3.53 14.81 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.56 Sq.cm 1335.50 964.50 236.25 1755.00 297.00 994.75 86.25 2236.00 Lakbima Irida Sangrahaya % 12.33 0.00 8.91 2.18 16.21 2.74 9.19 0.80 20.65 Sq.cm 995.00 225.75 1762.00 695.50 259.00 Gnairu Thinakkural % 14.89 3.38 26.38 0.00 10.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.88 Sq.cm 312.00 2047.50 2679.00 1007.50 594.00 222.75 Virkesari Vaaraveledu % 2.96 19.44 25.44 0.00 9.57 0.00 5.64 0.00 2.11 Sq.cm 252.00 8040.00 914.50 78.00 146.25 760.50 Sunday Leader % 1.53 48.68 5.54 0.00 0.47 0.00 0.00 0.89 4.60 Sq.cm 568.25 1086.00 617.75 307.00 652.00 117.00 Morning Leader % 7.55 14.43 8.21 0.00 4.08 0.00 0.00 8.66 1.55 Sq.cm 1650.00 7777.50 418.75 Irudina % 14.35 67.65 3.64 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Sq.cm 1027.00 253.50 Sudar Oli % 0.00 0.00 0.00 80.20 0.00 0.00 19.80 0.00 0.00 Sq.cm 632.00 168.75 1436.00 802.00 337.50 104.00 Ravaya % 15.21 4.06 34.55 0.00 19.30 0.00 8.12 0.00 2.50 Sq.cm 1353.00 701.25 3511.75 Lanka % 21.37 0.00 11.08 55.46 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Total area used for election-related news, features, editorials, cartoons & photo in Weekly Newspapers 09th October Election Free & Fair Other Election Social Election and Newspaper Developments Total Violence Election Related Issues Peace Process 90.75 9904.50 Silumina % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.92 100.00 Sq.cm 1963.75 3030.50 Thinakaran vaaramanjary % 0.00 0.00 64.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 656.00 2539.50 7804.25 Sunday Observer % 0.00 8.41 32.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 88.00 4521.50 10890.50 Irida Lankadeepa % 0.00 0.81 41.52 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 161.25 1612.00 13.50 5984.25 Sunday Times % 0.00 2.69 26.94 0.23 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 160.00 3905.75 420.00 13207.25 Divaina Irida Sangrahaya % 1.21 0.00 29.57 0.00 0.00 3.18 100.00 Sq.cm 0.00 Divamina % #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Sq.cm 3906.25 1719.25 7188.75 Sunday Island % 0.00 0.00 54.34 0.00 0.00 23.92 100.00 Sq.cm 1666.50 859.75 396.00 10827.50 Lakbima Irida Sangrahaya % 0.00 0.00 15.39 0.00 7.94 3.66 100.00 Sq.cm 2743.25 6680.50 Gnairu Thinakkural % 0.00 0.00 41.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 3669.25 10532.00 Virkesari Vaaraveledu % 0.00 0.00 34.84 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 80.00 6245.50 16516.75 Sunday Leader % 0.00 0.48 37.81 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 345.50 429.25 2816.75 150.00 436.00 7525.50 Morning Leader % 4.59 5.70 37.43 1.99 5.79 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 1650.00 11496.25 Irudina % 0.00 14.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 1280.50 Sudar Oli % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 100.00 576.00 4156.25 Ravaya % 2.41 0.00 0.00 13.86 0.00 0.00 100.00 Sq.cm 56.25 709.50 6331.75 Lanka % 0.89 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 11.21 100.00