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Lanka improves to 134th in 2026 World Press Freedom Index

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/1

AS World-Press-Freedom-index

Sri Lanka has climbed five places in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, ranking 134th out of 180 countries with a global score of 40.77. The latest report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) marks an improvement from 2025, when the country was placed 139th.

According to RSF, press freedom issues in Sri Lanka are closely tied to the civil war that ravaged the island until 2009, as well as the still-unpunished crimes of violence against numerous journalists when the Tamil rebellion was being crushed.

RSF says per the latest report, journalism is still in danger in this country of 22 million inhabitants, as the media landscape lacks diversity, is highly concentrated and dependent on major political clans.

For the first time in the history of the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, over half of the world’s countries now fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom.

In 25 years, the average score of all 180 countries and territories surveyed in the Index has never been so low. Since 2001, the expansion of increasingly restrictive legal arsenals, particularly those linked to national security policies, has been steadily eroding the right to information, even in democratic countries.

The Index’s legal indicator has seen the most severe decline this year, a clear sign that journalism is increasingly criminalised worldwide. This score deteriorated in more than 60% of states, 110 out of 180, between 2025 and 2026.

This is notably the case in India (157th), Egypt (169th), Israel (116th) and Georgia (135th). The criminalisation of journalism, which is rooted in circumventing press law and misusing emergency legislation and common law, is proving to be a global phenomenon.

In 21 of the 32 countries and territories assessed across the Asia-Pacific zone, the state of press freedom is classified as either “difficult” or “very serious.”

It is one of the most repressive regions in the world, and the situation continues to deteriorate. This is largely due to legal attacks against the press, notably abusive charges and draconian laws.

More troubling still, the censorship and propaganda tactics developed by regional authoritarian regimes, China foremost among them, are now spreading far beyond their borders.

Norway holds the top spot for the tenth consecutive year, while Eritrea comes in last for the third year in a row.

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Heat Index at Caution Level at some places in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/1

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 30 April 2026, valid for 01 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, and North-western provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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USD 2.5 mn fraud probe: Interdicted MoF official found dead at home

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/1

Thilina Walpola

An Assistant Director of the External Resources Department (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance, interdicted pending an investigation into the diversion of US$2.5 million in Treasury funds to a rogue account was found dead at his residence in Kuliyapitiya.

The deceased has been identified as Ranga Nishantha, 50.

Police said the officer had been found in the garden of his house and they believed that the officila had committed suicide. However, investigators have not ruled out other possibilities, and inquiries are continuing.

The official was interdicted along with three other senior Finance Ministry officials over a cyber-enabled financial fraud.

Those interdicted include a Director and an Assistant Director from the ERD, as well as a Director and an Additional Director General from the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).

Police sources said that the CID had on two occasions asked Nishantha to make a statement in connection with the ongoing investigation, but he had failed to comply.

Police said the CID probe into the alleged cyber fraud is continuing, with investigators examining the circumstances surrounding the diversion of funds through compromised communication channels.Kuliyapitiya Police said further investigations were underway to establish the exact cause of death.

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Alarm raised over plan to share Lanka’s biometric data with blacklisted Indian firm

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/1

Thilina Walpola

FSP accuses govt. of reducing Sri Lanka to a puppet of India by giving away sensitive data

Jana Aragalaya Movement, affiliated to the Frontline Socialist Party, yesterday raised alarm over a move to hand over Sri Lankans’ fingerprint and iris biometric data to a blacklisted foreign company.

Speaking at a media briefing in front of the Ministry of Fisheries yesterday Jana Aragalaya Movement National Operational Committee Member Wasantha Mudalige alleged that India was seeking access to Sri Lanka’s sensitive national data systems in a bid to exert influence over the country.

He said that decision-making authority over the proposed biometric identity card system was being ceded to India.

Mudalige said the electronic identity card project, launched in 2012, had already cost Rs. 5.6 billion in software development, with a further Rs. 600 million needed for completion. However, he alleged that in 2021 the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration had moved to integrate the project

with India for biometric implementation, despite substantial local investment already made.

He said a government tender process had been initiated but later stalled after bidders failed to meet required qualifications.

He alleged that in 2023 the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration had attempted to award the project to Madras Security Printers, a company blacklisted over an excise-related fraud case, and that the move was halted following public opposition.

Mudalige added that after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office, Sri Lanka had signed an agreement with India in January 2025 under which tendering authority was also transferred.

He alleged that while five Indian companies were initially registered, a sixth company—Madras Security Printers—was later added by March 2026, raising further concerns.

Calling for urgent clarification, Mudalige warned that Sri Lanka risked undermining its sovereignty and national security, insisting the country must not be reduced to what he termed a foreign “puppet state.”

by Chaminda Silva