What Should Journalists Know About Sri Lanka's Ongoing Economic Crisis?
Sri Lanka is in an unstable position caused primarily by extreme inflation and supply shortages of goods like fuel, domestic gas, medicines, milk powder, and other essentials. Sri Lankans find themselves without power in the middle of the day on a regular basis. The situation has deteriorated so rapidly that protests and violence are at their highest levels seen in the nation since it gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1948.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Sri Lanka defaulted on a multi-million pound foreign debt payment, causing the value of the rupee to plummet over 30%. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka claimed that lack of revenue from tourism nearly depleted its ability to purchase imports with foreign currency. However, there is evidence of economic mismanagement at the end of the 2009 Sri Lankan Civil War, when the country shifted its economic policy to focus more on domestic production than on foreign production, which meant that the amount it was paying to import goods and services far outweighed any income on imports. COVID-19 destabilized this already fragile system, and Sri Lanka’s foreign currency reserves are at just $50 million.
Sri Lanka also owes money to several other sovereign nations, including China, for infrastructure projects. Food is now scarce because foreign-imported fertilizer is unaffordable for the nation. The government’s only plan to “solve” the crisis is to begin printing money to pay wages, which could lead to inflation levels of over 40 percent?
WHO IS INVOLVED?
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a leader who went to great lengths to dissolve any traces of democracy from the nation, and his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, are taking the blame from most of Sri Lanka’s citizens. President Rajapaksa created a dearth in income in the country when he instituted tax cuts amongst the wealthy and upper class, which has hobbled Sri Lanka’s ability to pay for its own projects and citizens.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa resigned after public pushback. Ranil Wickremesinghe was instead appointed to the post, and according to the International Journalist’s Network, this appointment caught the populace by surprise:
“Wickremesinghe’s appointment has been well-received internationally, but the response locally has been lukewarm. His critics say that by taking up the appointment at a time when there is a growing public demand for the president to step down, he has given a lifeline to the Rajapaksa family. Others argue that given the doldrums the country’s economy is in, he has come forward to take up the challenge when others were shying away from it.“
ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS
As the economic crisis came into full bloom and cries to get Rajapaksa out of office began, surveillance on journalists in the island nation ramped up. The Committee To Protect Journalists called on the Sri Lanka to “respect press freedom, ensure unrestricted access to social media and communication platforms, and allow the media to work freely and independently during a nationwide state of emergency.”
On March 31, 2022, police arrested at least six journalists outside the home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in violation of Section 120 of the penal code, which makes it a criminal offense to “excite feelings of disaffection” about the country or the President. Two additional journalists were assaulted during the same protest by citizens. Additionally, Sri Lanka has made several attempts to block citizens from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Viber, and YouTube.
SAFETY WHEN REPORTING
“It’s important for journalists to always carry with them their media accreditation cards so that if they’re challenged, they can prove their identity,” said journalist Chandani Kirinde, who has been working in Sri Lanka for over 30 years.
“While on coverage, it is safer to wear the ID so that they are easily recognizable. Of late, media personnel have been given press jackets for easy identification and photographers/videographers have taken to wearing them. Given the volatility of the situation in the country at the moment, there are risks involved whatever safety measures are taken by them, like in any conflict situation.”
Kirinde also made a note that any international journalists coming to the country must receive their accreditation, and warned against arriving “as a tourist” to do investigative journalism. He noted female journalists from outside the nation were likely to be harassed on the streets.
Sri Lanka currently ranks 146/180 in press freedom around the world, down from 127 in 2021. Rajapaksa’s government has put increasing pressure on journalists since he took power in 2019. Tensions between Tamil and Sinhalese residents have also created unsafe reporting conditions. The Sinhalese/Buddhist population have targeted reporters for any reporting on Buddhism or for shedding any positive light on the Tamil/Muslim popualtion.
