Sri Lanka
Journalism in Sri Lanka is under siege. Reporters are murdered, media activists are forced into exile and newsrooms are burnt. Currently Sri Lanka is ranked as number 165 on Reporters without Borders press freedom index making it the lowest ranked democracy in the world.
Fojo has been engaged in Sri Lanka since 2000, and works with two main partners: The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) and the Media Resource and Training Centre (MRTC). SLPI is a national institute based in Colombo, while MRTC is attached to the University of Jaffna.
Although the political situation in Sri Lanka has detoriated and the media has limited space to produce quality journalism , it's important and relevant to continue to struggle for press freedom as well as to support a more professional and responsible media. It's well known that Sri Lankan press, radio and TV failed to remain independent during the conflict. Editors were appointed on political merits, and reporters who tried to publish balanced and impartial journalism risked their lives. Instead of balanced, impartial and accurate reporting, the media supported one side or the other in the conflict. In many ways this is valid also after the end of the armed conflict in May 2009.
