Pakistani authorities have imposed severe new restrictions on international media, including barring them from reporting in most of the country, in a move that has provoked a significant backlash from journalist organisations.

According to the new rules anyone, including Pakistani nationals, should seek permission first if they want to report from anywhere Pakistan except three cities – Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

Pakistan is ranked 153 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index. Successive regimes there have imposed restrictions and censorship on local media. But this is the first time they have put restrictions on international media.

The sudden announcement of new rules came after the killing of dozens of protesters in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which was only reported by international media.

Al Jazeera’s website was restricted in Pakistan after it reported on the bloody protests and the news that people were boycotting regional elections from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan’s Kashmir.

Pakistan’s information ministry derided Al Jazeera’s reporting as “yellow journalism”, a derogatory term used for sensationalised reporting.

Authorities have not publicly announced a ban of the news website, but it remains inaccessible without a VPN.

The BBC reported from Pakistan-administered Kashmir and quoted protesters and people who accused Pakistani security forces of firing at unarmed protesters. Pakistani authorities issued a strongly worded denial and asked all journalists to immediately leave Kashmir.

The new rules, which the ministry of information called the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, do not specify a timeframe for how long it would take for journalists to be granted permission to report.

Nasir Zaidi, a former general secretary at the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and a senior journalist, said that international media has been objectively reporting on protest movements, crackdowns on opposition parties and the repressive political situation in Pakistan.

“For decades, various governments have always tried to kill the news and they failed because of the reporting of international media and now it came up with these repressive rules to curb the movement of journalists. They don’t want the truth to be reported,” said Zaidi.

The government denies that the new rules are a blanket restriction on the movement of journalists or constrict media.

Zaidi, who was subjected to public flogging during the military dictatorship of Gen Zia ul-Haq for raising his voice for media rights, said that he had never witnessed such times before.

“Despite the fact I have worked during martial laws, but, such curbs and restrictions on international media were unseen. It is worse than martial law,” he added.

According to the new guidelines, the accreditation and registration is mandatory for international media outlets and journalists in the country.

The new rules also state that journalists can lose their accreditation for “acts against ideology, sovereignty, security or public order of Pakistan”.

Legal experts and journalists have said that these stipulations are vague and difficult to interpret.

“Pakistan is sending a very wrong message to the world with all these rules curbing free speech and freedom of international media,” said Zaidi. (The Guardian)

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Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation, K. D. Lal Kantha says media institutions tend to only report on the negatives, often overlooking the positive developments in the country.

Addressing an event, Minister Lal Kantha said that the media institutions publishing news reports on the upsets in the country are themselves flawed. 

“The media outlets that spoke of upsets in the country are themselves upset institutions. This is the state of our country,” Minister K. D. Lal Kantha said, commenting on media behaviour in Sri Lanka. 

“Media culture is one thing that has not seen a change in this country. According to the media, the government has not provided relief to disaster-hit communities, has not granted compensation to affected farmers, and the government has done nothing. A majority of the media institutions in this country lie. Not even what is said in the newspaper is true today. Newspapers report that there is something wrong with politics and government service, but the newspaper itself is flawed,” he said. 

Minister Lal Kantha pointed out that the media institutions that speak of faults of the government, are themselves flawed. (Newswire)

“The media outlets that spoke of upsets in the country are now upset themselves,” Minister K. D. Lal Kantha commenting on media behaviour in Sri Lanka. He said media institutions tend to only report on the negatives, often overlooking the positive developments. pic.twitter.com/4ZvSh2WcWh

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) December 31, 2025

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to initiate legal action against media institutions involved in the drug trade, instead of making statements in Parliament.

“No need to make statements here. Arrest them. Initiate legal action. If a media institution is involved in drug peddling, initiate legal action,” MP Premadasa said in Parliament today.

He further said that the public is expecting answers and solutions, and not opposition-style politics. 

“When they are unable to respond after giving false hopes and promises to the public, it is pointless to put on a show in Parliament. Don’t waste time with pointless statements,” MP Premadasa said.

The Opposition Leader further urged the government to conduct the Provincial Council Elections, instead of appointing a Parliamentary Select Committee. 

“Use the old system and conduct the Provincial Council Elections. Protect democracy,” he added. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police have warned the media regarding the publishing of CCTV and other footage connected to legal cases, stating that it must take responsibility for such publication. 

Issuing a statement, the Police said the publication or broadcasting of photographs and video footage related to ongoing court cases, cases scheduled to be taken up before the court in the near future, investigations where photography is prohibited, or related operational activities, via electronic or print media, is prohibited.

This includes visual/audio recordings, whether original, unedited, or altered/unedited using AI or other technologies, being disseminated through various media platforms. The release of such visuals could potentially influence investigations into serious crimes, complex incidents, and sensitive observations, it said. 

The Police further said that if such photographs, video footage, or AI-generated/altered visuals are publicized during the pendency of court cases or investigations, it could cause the victims and witnesses to face various threats and potentially dangerous situations.

According to the institutional structure of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, media institutions operate within a specific framework and limitations. Accordingly, information should be released to the media only by an authorized officer designated by the head of the institution or the head of the institution themselves. Therefore, photographs and video footage containing information obtained officially regarding incidents, including those where photography is prohibited, should be released only through the Police Media Division to all media, and it is instructed that these photographs and video footage should be provided to the Sri Lanka Police, it said.

The Police pointed out that if facts are presented contrary to this, by publishing information, whether unverified, prohibited, or altered/unedited photographs or video footage, the respective media heads/persons responsible will be held accountable.

They also warned that on such occasions, if a complaint is lodged by an aggrieved party before the Court, those institutions and responsible persons will also be subject to legal action. (Newswire)

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A 30-member delegation of Government Media Officials from Sri Lanka engaged in a two-week visit to India for a special training programme from 17 to 30 August 2025. 

The delegation comprised officials from the Prime Minister’s Media Division, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Government Information (DGI), including representatives of district media units. 

The Programme was organised pursuant to the announcement made by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, offering 700 customised slots annually for Sri Lankan professionals. 

According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, the two-week programme was organised by the Government of India at the request of the Department of Government Information, Sri Lanka. 

It was hosted by premier Indian institutions, including the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), and the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The programme featured interactive sessions on public diplomacy, press relations, digital media practices, and media management. 

As part of their experiential learning programme, the delegation visited prominent institutions including the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), and the Kalinga Stadium. They also met the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, where discussions centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation in media and public communication.

Beyond professional training, the programme also provided exposure to India’s economic growth, digital public infrastructure, technological advancements, including AI prowess, and its vibrant tourism sector, along with opportunities to experience India’s rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality.

The special training programme for government media officials from Sri Lanka further contributed to enhancing professional expertise, knowledge sharing, and institutional linkages in the field of media and communication between India and Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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A discussion chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has broadly scrutinized the allocations made for 41 institutions under four departments of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, as well as the progress of projects implemented accordingly. 

The meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday saw a review of the projects implemented under the 2025 budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, together with a pre-budget discussion for the year 2026.

During the discussion, the President instructed officials to focus special attention in the upcoming budget on strengthening primary healthcare services. He also reviewed the ongoing programme for developing Primary Health Centres. It was revealed that currently, one Primary Health Centre operates per 30,000 people; the plan is to improve one centre per 10,000 people.

Discussions were also held on organisational and structural reforms in the health service to match current technological and social conditions. Attention was also focused on the construction works within the health sector and the issues that have emerged there.

The meeting addressed the key issue of medical equipment procurement and considered updating procurement guidelines, including those applicable to the Ayurvedic sector. Plans to enhance the facilities of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority to ensure the quality of medicines purchased were also discussed. 

The President instructed officials to ensure that essential vehicles required for services such as the National Blood Transfusion Service are acquired within this year itself.

He further emphasised the need for transformation not only in the physical resources of the health service but also in human resources, in response to technological advancement and population growth. It was also noted that a new National Health Policy and Strategic Plan are scheduled to be launched next year.

The President pointed out the importance of effectively using foreign aid and grants to deliver the intended benefits to the people and suggested that issues arising at the provincial level be resolved through dialogue.

Attention was also drawn to ensuring the credibility of health-related donations, with a proposal to introduce a digital mechanism that confirms reliability for both donors and recipients.

It was revealed that the “Suwa Seriya” ambulance service, currently operating at 272 locations across the island, is expected to be further expanded to 400 locations.  

Plans relating to the Ministry of Mass Media were also discussed. The President stated that intervention to shape social attitudes is a responsibility of the state media. Accordingly, he instructed officials to present a plan to engage state media in this process, with allocations to be set aside for this purpose in the upcoming budget.

An extensive discussion was also held on modernising the Postal Service to suit present-day requirements. The need to transform it into a new model by integrating courier services and similar facilities with modern technology was underlined.

The President noted that the problem in the past had been insufficient budgetary allocations for necessary projects. However, in contrast, the most recent budget has allocated adequate provisions for all sectors. He stressed the importance of properly utilizing these allocations during the financial year for the intended projects so that the public receives the maximum benefits. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage has requested the Speaker of the Parliament to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the attempts by a prominent local media institution to tarnish his reputation. 

Addressing the Parliament today, Nalin Hewage revealed that a journalist from the media institution had reported false news regarding him during a televised programme on 01 June 2025.

He further said that the journalist had also gone on to publish a detailed news report based on the false information in the media institution’s newspaper. 

“This media channel is defaming my character and slandering me. As such, I request that the Speaker conduct an investigation immediately and grant me justice,” he added. 

Responding to the Deputy Minister, the Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih informed that the matter will be referred to the Speaker. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has granted policy approval to proceed with drafting legislation to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals – Sri Lanka, a proposed national body aimed at enhancing media standards and professionalism.

The proposal is in line with the “requirement of a training institute for carrying out relevant studies with the objective of presenting media intellects fortified with skills for the uplifting quality and standards of media society of this country while creating chartered professional journalists,” the government said.

The institute is intended to serve as a formal training and accreditation body for media practitioners, with the goal of developing skilled, chartered professional journalists and elevating the quality of the media sector in the country.

Initial approval to draft the bill was granted on August 15, 2022. The latest proposal, submitted by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, received renewed approval from the Cabinet to complete the draft for presentation in Parliament. (Newswire)

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Police have issued a warning to media outlets for violating ethical guidelines in reporting the recent sexual assault incident at Anuradhapura Hospital.

Issuing a statement, Sri Lanka Police said several violations had been observed, including breaches of the victim’s privacy.

They stressed that excerpts from the victim’s statement, included in the “B” report used for legal proceedings, had been quoted in media reports, causing distress and disrespect to the victim.

“It is not the first instance where certain media outlets have engaged in such practices, including publishing the suspect’s photographs. These actions obstruct legal proceedings,” the statement said.

Police further noted that under Act No. 10 of 2023, disclosing information about victims or witnesses in an ongoing investigation without proper authorisation is a punishable offences.

Additionally, Section 355 of the Penal Code (Amended Act No. 22 of 1995) strictly prohibits revealing the identity of victims in cases of sexual harassment, exploitation, or abuse—offences that include trafficking, unlawful sexual exploitation, physical assault on women, incest, criminal intimidation, and violence between individuals.

Sri Lanka Police urged all media organizations to verify information with official sources before publication to avoid legal repercussions. (Newswire)

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United States President Donald Trump’s administration has begun laying off staff at Voice of America (VOA) after signing an executive order placing nearly all employees at the government-funded media network on leave.

VOA employees working on a contractual basis on Sunday received an email informing them that they were being terminated effective March 31.

In the email, which was seen by Al Jazeera, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) said contractors must “cease all work immediately” and were “not permitted to access any agency buildings or systems”.

“Contractors, including myself, at Voice of America have just received an email notifying us that our contracts will be terminated effective March 31, 2025,” Misha Komadovsky, the White House correspondent for VOA’s Russian-language service, said in a post on X.

The move came after Trump on Friday signed an executive order to effectively eliminate USAGM, which also hosts Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, along with six other federal agencies.

In a statement, The White House said the move would “ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda” and listed a series of criticisms of VOA by conservative media and lawmakers.

Trump’s directive is the latest in a series of moves to draw condemnation from media freedom advocacy groups, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, which branded the latest order “dystopian”.

Last month, the Trump administration began barring The Associated Press news agency from events over its refusal to use “Gulf of America” as the name for the Gulf of Mexico, and announced that it would decide which journalists and media organisations can participate in media pools.

VOA and other US-funded outlets have long faced accusations of liberal bias from Trump and his allies, including cost-cutting tsar Elon Musk, who last month claimed the broadcasters were made up of “radical left crazy people talking to themselves”.

During Trump’s first term, the White House accused VOA of “speaking for America’s adversaries – not its citizens”.

In 2020, a federal judge ruled that Trump-appointed USAGM CEO Michael Pack acted unconstitutionally by investigating its journalists over their alleged bias.

Brian Padden, a former VOA bureau chief in South Korea and Indonesia who retired in 2020, said it was “galling” to hear the Trump administration accuse VOA of disseminating anti-US propaganda.

“In the course of my reporting, I have been shot at, roughed up, and even nearly decapitated by an exploding helicopter in Eastern Ukraine,” Padden said on Facebook on Sunday.

“In 2014, I was harassed by Pro-Russian activists or militants in Ukraine who accused me and my VOA TV crew of being agents of pro-American propaganda. 

Both Musk and the Russian militants are wrong. VOA does not do propaganda. VOA reports the news, which includes the perspective of both proponents and critics of the president.”

Since Friday’s executive order, VOA’s broadcasts have gone quiet or been replaced by music in multiple regions, including parts of Asia and the Middle East.

Established during World War II to combat propaganda from Nazi Germany, VOA operated in more than 40 languages and claimed a weekly audience of more than 354 million people worldwide. (Al Jazeera)

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Sri Lanka’s journalist groups have raised concern over the government’s decision to enter into agreements with Chinese media institutions during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to Beijing.

Anidda Newspaper reported that several media forums expressed concern after the government last week said proposals were approved for partnerships with Chinese media outlets aimed at capacity building.

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) Chairperson Duminda Sampath criticized the move, stating that the timing of the agreements remains questionable. “Chinese media are largely seen as state-controlled entities, not independent outlets. At a time when Sri Lankan journalists are advocating for reform to ensure media independence, especially with state media, this decision is deeply troubling,” he said.

Sampath warned that such agreements could pave the way for foreign influence over Sri Lanka’s media landscape. He also accused the government of bypassing consultations with the country’s media community, describing the lack of transparency as a threat to press freedom.

Meanwhile, Lasantha De Silva of the Free Media Movement echoed these concerns, calling for the government to disclose the contents of the agreements before signing. “We have long called for media to function with social responsibility, not as government mouthpieces. What do these agreements entail, and how will they impact the country? The public should have been made aware of these,” De Silva said.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health and Mass Media is expected to sign MOUs with China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) and state-owned Xinhua News Agency to facilitate capacity-building programs for officials and journalists.

The agreements include partnerships between Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House) and Xinhua, as well as collaborations between the Department of Government Information, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation with China Media Group, according to the government. (Newswire)

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Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake said that it would be ideal for Sri Lanka’s media to consider reform as part of the government’s ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative.

Addressing an event, Minister Rathnayake said it is evident that some mainstream television stations are against the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme and are constantly causing issues with their reports. 

“We cannot do anything about it. However, the people’s mandate requests us to clean up, and we will do it. It would be good if the media cleans up as well. Just because the media says something, we will not stop our work. Extremely sorry!” he said.  

Minister Rathnayake further said that the government has received a full-fledged people’s mandate and they will honour it. (Newswire)

“Extremely sorry, we will not stop our efforts just because some media outlets oppose them,” Minister Bimal Rathnayake on criticisms against the government’s Clean Sri Lanka initiative, adding that a full-fledged mandate was given for them to clean the country. pic.twitter.com/ftbtWARnxJ

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) January 6, 2025

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The National Election Commission has warned that measures will be taken against media institutions that fail to adhere to election laws.

Addressing the media, Election Commission Chairman R. M. A. L. Rathnayake said a number of complaints have been received against certain media institutions promoting only selected Presidential candidates.

Rathnayake said the Government Information Department has been sending reports on the propaganda of candidates on mainstream media and electronic media.

He further said analysis has found that the time slots allocated for some Presidential candidates are not equal to those provided to other candidates. 

“We have advised the relevant media institutions in this regard. If they fail to adhere to our advice and keep promoting one candidate, then we will have to take measures to address the situation under the powers vested with the Election Commission,” he said.

The Election Commission Chairman elaborated that the measures would most likely be the suspending of the association between the Commission and the media institution, not issuing media statements, not issuing invitations for press conferences and the suspension of the issuance of election results. 

Rathnayake urged the media to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Election Commission for the 2024 Presidential Election. (Newswire)

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The National Peoples Power (NPP) has warned Sri Lankan media companies to act in a responsible manner.

NPP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake warned that a Presidential Pardon will not be given to any person accused of murder, abuse of children and women, and corruption under an NPP government.

MP Dissanayake further pointed out that it was wrong of media companies to use their power to protect such people and urged media institutions to refrain from operating to the needs of their relatives.

“Some media companies have also started to make noise. We will not name anyone yet. They still have the right to correct themselves. Any media company has the right to criticise politicians,” he said. 

MP Dissanayake said, however, that an attacking approach by the media will not be tolerated. 

“We are a political party that is willing to listen to criticism and correct our actions. But we will not accept criticism by media institutions whose sole purpose has become to attack the NPP. We will not be afraid, heed, or bow down to such attacks,” he warned. 

NPP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake made the statement while addressing the NPP May Day rally in Colombo yesterday. (Newswire)

Our government will not pardon some criminals who own media houses – Anura Kumara assures. #Lka pic.twitter.com/7VYkIsDEzN

— Manjula Basnayake (@BasnayakeM) May 2, 2024

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Sri Lankan Commentator Roshan Abeysinghe says cricketers representing the national team need to be mindful of their responses when addressing the media. 

Speaking during a television interview, Abeysinghe said language is a barrier faced by many of the Sri Lankan cricketers when on overseas tours. 

He said, however, it is also essential to be mindful of the responses one gives when facing the media. 

“We saw recently some of the responses were wrong. The cricketers must be trained for such instances. Facing the media is not like facing a single person. It is just a bridge between the cricketer and the worldwide audience,” he said. 

Commending Angelo Mathews for his manner in handling the media, Abeysinghe said this comes through years of experience in leading the team and engaging with the media during tours. (NewsWire) 

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The government is attempting to introduce new laws to suppress free media in Sri Lanka, opposition leader MP Sajith Premadasa alleged.

MP Premadasa said via a video message that the government was taking steps to suppress media in Sri Lanka under the guise of establishing the Broadcast Regulatory Authority.

Pointing out that this was an attempt to prevent unbiased information from reaching the public, he further stated that the new laws will allow the government to only share information it deems necessary.

MP Sajith Premadasa added that it was essential to defeat such proposed laws that violate the freedom of media and the fundamental rights of the public. (NewsWire)

The government is attempting to introduce new laws to suppress free media in Sri Lanka, opposition leader MP @sajithpremadasa alleged. pic.twitter.com/33lEg5mMsT

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) April 12, 2023

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