The latest rankings released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) show progress from 2025, when the country stood at 139th position.
RSF stated that media freedom concerns in Sri Lanka are still strongly connected to the country’s civil conflict, which ended in 2009, as well as unresolved attacks and violence against journalists during that era.
According to the report, journalism in Sri Lanka continues to face challenges, with the media industry lacking diversity, remaining concentrated, and being influenced by powerful political groups.
Globally, RSF noted that for the first time, more than half of all countries assessed now fall under the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom.
The organisation added that the worldwide average score has dropped to its lowest point in the 25-year history of the index.
The report also pointed to a significant decline in legal protections for journalists, warning that journalism is increasingly being criminalised across many nations.
Within the Asia-Pacific region, 21 of the 32 countries reviewed were classified as having either “difficult” or “very serious” press freedom environments.
Norway remained at the top of the rankings for the tenth consecutive year, while Eritrea was ranked last for the third year in a row.
