Sri Lanka has improved from its 165th to 141st in the world media freedom index. The Government would further improve on this positive development, Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media and Co-Cabinet Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing held at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday (May 11), he said that under good governance practiced by this government, Sri Lanka was able to move forward by passing around 20 countries in the world media freedom index.

Health Minister and Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that during the past, the former President himself called newspaper editors and threatened them to publish or avoid publishing certain things, but it does not happen at present. Current President Maithripala Sirisena had cut down on his own powers.