Sri Lanka Rises to 134th as Global Press Freedom Hits 25-Year Low 📈

• Global Overview: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns that journalism is being increasingly criminalised, with press freedom reaching its lowest level in 25 years. Over 50% of the 180 countries indexed now fall into "difficult" or "very serious" categories. • Sri Lanka Performance: Sri Lanka moved up 5 places to 134th in 2026 (from 139th in 2025) with a score of 40.77. While a modest gain, the report classifies the situation as "difficult." • Key Concerns: Despite the rank improvement, RSF highlights structural risks to the media and information sector, including: Regulatory Risks: The 1973 Press Council and the 2024 Online Safety Commission are noted for presidential influence over appointments. Legal Constraints: Frequent use of the ICCPR Act and prevention of terrorism laws to silence dissenting voices or investigations into minority regions. Digital Freedom: New internet regulations allow for the potential censorship of social media and the suspension of source confidentiality. • Regional & Global Context: Top Tier: Norway, Netherlands, and Estonia lead the index. Major Declines: The USA fell to 64th, Argentina dropped to 98th, and India remains low at 157th. Conflict Zones: Over 220 journalists have been killed in Gaza since Oct 2023, contributing to the Middle East being ranked among the most dangerous regions.