- Sri Lanka drops to 150th in 2024 World Press Freedom Index
Sri Lanka’s ranking in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index has fallen significantly, dropping fifteen places to 150th, as reported annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Last year, Sri Lanka held the 135th position out of 180 countries.
The index evaluates 180 countries based on journalists’ ability to work and report freely and independently. Neighbouring India ranked at 159th, Pakistan at 152nd while Bangladesh ranked at 165. Norway retained its spot at the top this year followed by Denmark and Sweden as countries with the highest levels of press freedom.
The report highlighted press freedom issues in Sri Lanka, linking them to the country’s civil war until 2009 and the unresolved crimes of violence against journalists during the conflict.
Sri Lanka’s new internet regulation law passed in January 2024, and the establishment of the Online Safety Commission whose members are appointed by the president were also made note of in the report. It said that under the pretext of safeguarding “national security,” this commission has the authority to censor social media content and accounts of dissenting voices and to compromise the confidentiality of their sources.
In the Asia-Pacific region, which is the second most challenging for journalism, Myanmar, China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan rank among the world’s ten most dangerous countries for media personnel.
The report highlights Palestine as the deadliest country for journalists, facing ongoing conflict with the Israeli army. Qatar stands as the region’s only country without a classification of “difficult” or “very serious” for press freedom. (NewsWire)