Lankapuvath
Lankapuvath, based in Colombo, functions as the official news agency of Sri Lanka. It serves as a central content provider for the country’s national newspapers, radio networks, and television broadcasters. While originally established to promote public interest reporting, the agency today operates primarily as a conduit for disseminating government-aligned news across state media platforms.
Media assets
News agency: LankaPuvath
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Lankapuvath is registered as a limited liability company jointly owned by the country’s four principal state-run media organisations: Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) and Independent Television Network (ITN).
The governance structure reflects this ownership: the board of directors comprises the chairpersons of these four state media entities—each of whom is appointed directly by the Ministry of Mass Media. As a result, governance is tightly linked to the prevailing political administration, leaving little room for institutional autonomy.
Source of funding and budget
According to interviews conducted with local journalists and policy analysts in 2023, 2024 and 2025, Lankapuvath operates largely on state subsidies. These funds are allocated annually through the Ministry of Mass Media’s broader public information budget.
The agency does not disclose detailed financial statements, and there is no public record of its income or expenditure for 2024 or the first half of 2025. Its dependency on public funds, combined with the absence of financial transparency, has led to calls from civil society for improved accountability mechanisms.
Editorial independence
Although Lankapuvath covers a wide spectrum of subjects—including development projects, diplomatic engagements, and cultural events—its editorial scope remains tightly controlled. According to media experts and newsroom sources interviewed for this report, its output is characterized by systematic avoidance of government criticism, and the agency functions more as a state information arm than a journalistic body.
As of June 2025, there is still no statutory safeguard ensuring Lankapuvath’s editorial independence. Nor is there any external oversight mechanism to monitor its adherence to journalistic standards. While sporadic attempts to introduce media regulatory reform have emerged—most recently during parliamentary debates in March 2025—Lankapuvath has not been explicitly mentioned in any reform proposals.
July 2025