Duminda Sampath, the chairperson of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, has raised significant concerns regarding the fact that five out of the six agreements the President of Sri Lanka is poised to sign with China involve Chinese media institutions. He emphasized that, at a time when media organizations are calling for reforms to transform state media—currently viewed as a government mouthpiece—into a more independent public service, these agreements are troubling.
Sampath further pointed out, “We are aware that China offers no room for private media, operating exclusively with state-owned outlets that report strictly in accordance with the government’s narrative. In this context, it sets a dangerous precedent for Sri Lankan state media institutions to enter into agreements with Chinese government-controlled media, especially when reforms are being advocated for Sri Lanka’s own state media.
