Sri Lanka has been recognised as a country which is partly free in Political Rights, Civil Liberties and in the Freedom rating with an overall score of 55.

Sri Lanka was amongst only four countries that made upward trend in the Freedom in the World Index this year. The Index compiled by several charitable organisations based mainly in the United States has commended the steps taken by Sri Lanka following the appointment of the new government.

According to the report, Sri Lanka’s political rights and civil liberties ratings each improved from 5 to 4, and it received an upward trend arrow, due to generally free and fair elections for president in January and parliament in August, and improved conditions for freedom of expression, religious freedom, civil society, and judicial independence under the new administration.

The Index assessed conditions in 195 countries during the latest report. Accordingly to the Index, United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and Denmark are among 86 countries that are deemed Free while 59 countries including Turkey, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been deemed as partly free nations.

Afghanistan, Rwanda, Burundi and Yemen are among 50 countries that according to the 2016 Freedom in the World Index that are not free.