31 October, 2008 - Published 14:41 GMT

Lanka press freedom 'deteriorates'

International media watchdog groups say there has been a marked deterioration in press freedom in Sri Lanka, and that the country has become the first in the world to use anti-terror legislation to punish journalists.

The groups say journalists have been murdered, attacked and intimidated, especially in areas affected by war.

Representatives of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Media Support (IMS), International News Safety Institute (INSI), International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have just concluded a visit to Sri Lanka.

The watchdogs have called on the government to invite the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression "in line with its commitments to the Human Rights Council in 2006".

The groups also criticised recent moves by the authorities to cancel the licenses of any private broadcaster found to be threatening national security, or spreading ethnic, religious or cultural hatred.

Sri Lanka was recently given the lowest press freedom rating of any democratic country in the world by the international pressure group, Reporters Without Borders.