Sri Lanka
 |
Population: | 21,324,000 |
| Capital: | Colombo | |
| Language: | Sinhala (official and national), Tamil (national). English widely spoken | |
| Literacy Rate: | 90.7% | |
| GDP/PP: | $4,300 | |
| Joined Commonwealth: | 4 February 1948 |
Media
Media outlets are divided along linguistic and ethnic lines, with state-run and private operators offering services in the main languages.
However, the security situation has had a major impact on the media.
Many of the main broadcasters and publications are state-owned, including two major TV stations, radio networks operated by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and newspapers in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
There are more than a dozen private radio stations, and eight privately-run TV stations. Sri Lanka's privately-owned press and broadcasters often engage in political debate, and criticise government policies.
But the country is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. In late 2008, a grouping of international media freedom groups noted a deteriorating situation, marked by "murders, attacks, abductions, intimidation and harassment of the media".
The internet is a growing medium for news; many papers have online editions. There were more than 770,000 internet users by March 2008 according to world telecoms body, the ITU.
BBC World Service programmes in Sinhala and Tamil are relayed by SLBC under an agreement between the two broadcasters.
Newspapers
Lankadeepa - private, Sinhala daily
Lakbima - private, Sinhala daily
Divaina - private, Sinhala daily
Uthayan - private, Tamil daily
Virakesari - private, Tamil daily
The Island - private, English daily
Daily Mirror - private, English daily
The Morning Leader - private, English daily
Daily News - state-owned, English daily
Dinamina - state-owned, Sinhala daily
The Sunday Observer - state-owned English weekly
The Sunday Leader - private, English weekly
The Sunday Times - private, English weekly
The Nation - private English weekly
Television
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC)- state-owned, operates two channels: Rupavahini and Channel Eye
Independent Television Network (ITN) - state-run, Sri Lanka's first TV station
Sirasa TV - private, Sinhala
MTV (Maharaj TV) - private, English-language
TNL - private, English-language
ART TV - private
ETV - private, English-language
Swarnavahini - private, Sinhala
Shakthi TV - private, Tamil
Radio
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) - state-owned, operates domestic services in Sinhala, Tamil and English, including widely-listened-to Commercial Service
TNL Rocks - private, English-language
Sun FM - private, English-language
Yes FM - private, English-language
Sirasa FM - private, Sinhala
Shree FM - private, Sinhala
Sooriyan FM - private, Tamil
Shakthi FM - private, Tamil
News agencies
Lankapuvath - state-owned
TamilNet - Tamil news service
