Sri Lanka has ranked 146th in the latest Reporters Without Borders report for 2022.
According to the latest report Sri Lanka has dropped 19 spots from 127th position in 2021.
The 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories, highlights the disastrous effects of news and information chaos – the effects of a globalised and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda.
The RWB said press freedom issues are closely tied in Sri Lanka to the conflict.
The report on Sri Lanka said with a media sector lacking diversity and highly dependent on major political clans, journalism is at risk.
An RSF study concluded that fewer than one in five Sri Lankan citizens have access to politically independent media.
The world’s 10 worst countries for press freedom include Myanmar (176th), as well as China (175th), Turkmenistan (177th), Iran (178th), Eritrea (179th) and North Korea (180th).
The trio of Nordic countries at the top of the Index – Norway, Denmark and Sweden – continues to serve as a democratic model where freedom of expression flourishes.
