Sri Lankan Minister's Threat of Emergency Powers to Curb Criticism Amid Cyclone Crisis Raises Concerns Over Press Freedom

KalimNews, Colombo, 5 December 2025: A senior Sri Lankan minister's recent threat to invoke emergency powers in a bid to curb criticism of the country's president and senior government officials has sparked widespread concerns about press freedom and the government's treatment of dissent. The threat follows the country’s worst natural disaster in decades, Cyclone Ditwah, which has left a devastating trail of destruction and significant loss of life.

On December 3, Sunil Watagala, the Deputy Minister for Public Security, directed police to utilise emergency powers to address what he described as “malicious attacks” circulating online against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as well as other senior ministers. According to Watagala, these attacks were particularly being propagated by Sri Lankans living abroad. During a meeting with law enforcement officials, the minister warned that, should such defamatory remarks persist, the government would be forced to invoke the Public Security Act.

The Public Security Act, under Section 5, allows the government to impose wide-reaching restrictions on the dissemination of information during crises, effectively limiting free expression. While Watagala’s statement raised alarm, President Dissanayake sought to reassure the public by declaring that the law would not be used to suppress legitimate criticism or dissent during this difficult period.

Despite these assurances, the proposed directive has drawn sharp criticism from both local and international organisations. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), alongside its Sri Lankan affiliate, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), has strongly condemned the minister's remarks, asserting that the government must uphold its commitment to freedom of expression. Both organisations expressed concern that the potential invocation of emergency powers could be an attempt to silence legitimate media reporting under the guise of disaster management.

The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive time as Sri Lanka grapples with the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the island on November 28, 2025. The cyclone has caused catastrophic damage, claiming at least 474 lives and leaving 356 individuals missing. Over 1.1 million people have been affected, and the president has called it the most severe natural disaster the country has ever faced.

As Sri Lanka continues its recovery efforts, the IFJ has received reports from local affiliates that some journalists and media workers are placing themselves at great personal risk to cover the devastating aftermath. In contrast, certain media outlets have been accused of publishing unverified information and sensationalist reports, exacerbating the already challenging situation. The IFJ has urged journalists to follow ethical reporting standards, particularly in relation to climate change, and to ensure that all information is carefully fact-checked before publication.

Both the IFJ and SLWJA have also reminded media workers of the importance of prioritising their safety while reporting on natural disasters, reinforcing that no story is worth putting one’s life in danger for.

Amid these unfolding events, the SLWJA has voiced its condemnation of the Deputy Minister’s statement, citing it as part of a broader pattern of government attempts to curtail media freedom over the past year. The association called on the Sri Lankan government to respect the public’s right to know and to refrain from any further actions that might threaten the independence of the press.

In a time of crisis, the role of the media is paramount in providing accurate, clear, and ethical information to the public. The IFJ and SLWJA both emphasised that it is essential for the government to support media freedom, enabling journalists to continue their vital work in an open and transparent environment. At the same time, the government has been urged to ensure that all actions taken i