Sri Lanka: RSF calls on newly-elected president to commit to press freedom
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the news president Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to make press freedom a priority, with recommendations for concrete measures in favor of the right to information.
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka was elected president on September 21, in a country ranked 150th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. The legal, political, social and economic environment in which journalists work does not guarantee citizens access to free and independent information.
Media professionals face ongoing attacks on the freedom to inform, in a context of impunity for these violations. In 2024, the censorship-friendly Online Safety Act was added to the repressive arsenal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which has been misused to silence journalists.
"Press freedom saw no improvement during the previous term of Ranil Wickremesinghe, who came to power after the 2022 uprising. This worrying situation calls for urgent measures to guarantee the free exercise and safety of journalists. RSF calls on the new president to commit to the right to reliable information and the protection of media professionals, to enable the country to move forward on the path to a free press.
RSF's five recommendations:
1) Eradicate the culture of impunity for crimes against media professionals, first and foremost by bringing to a swift conclusion all ongoing cases, and those that have been unjustifiably delayed.
- In particular, to shed full light on the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda, cartoonist and journalist with the Lankaenews website, since January 24, 2010.
- And reopen the investigation into the 2009 murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge, editor-in-chief of Sunday Leader.
2) Repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which has been misused to silence critical voices and journalists identified as belonging to the Tamil minority or of Muslim faith. It is essential to guarantee the safety of journalists from these minorities and to put an end to the intimidation to which they are subjected.
3) Repeal the censorship-prone Online Safety Act , which was passed by Parliament in January 2024.
4) Guarantee media pluralism and independence. Particular attention must be paid to structural reform of the management of state-funded media to ensure editorial independence.
5) Guarantee journalists' rights, including protection of sources.
