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Sri Lankan media organisations were reportedly excluded from covering Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile state visit to Colombo earlier this month, with reports highlighting how the President’s Media Division (PMD) took exclusive control of all media coordination and access.
While Indian press was given extensive access to official events - including high-level meetings and joint statements- the Sri Lankan press were relegated to the sidelines, with access reportedly limited to just the ceremonial welcome at Independence Square.
The Indian High Commission coordinated a media team of around 30 Indian journalists, many of whom travelled with Modi as part of his official delegation. In contrast, Sri Lankan media were effectively locked out, with only state-run broadcaster Rupavahini permitted to cover the event at which both leaders issued their statements. Independent Sri Lankan media outlets were barred entry, despite the significance of the bilateral talks.
According to the Sunday Times, reports and updates from the Indian High Commission—including official statements from Prime Minister Modi and details of signed agreements—were shared in Sinhala, Tamil, and English on social media and through press releases, hours before similar communication was issued by the PMD.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s speech, for example, was circulated more than five hours after delivery. By that point, Indian newsrooms had already filed comprehensive reports, while Sri Lankan outlets were left scrambling for official updates.
Read more from the Sunday Times here.
