Sri Lanka is listed the among 26 countries in which internet freedom declined in 2018, according to report by watchdog Freedom House, under the title 'Freedom on the Net'.

"The biggest score declines took place in Egypt and Sri Lanka, followed by Cambodia, Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Venezuela." the report, which analysed 65 countries, said. 

"In Sri Lanka, authorities shut down social media platforms for two days during communal riots that broke out in March and led to at least two deaths. Rumors and disinformation had spread on digital platforms, sparking vigilante violence that predominantly targeted the Muslim minority," it added.

The report also said, "Authorities in India and Sri Lanka temporarily shut down mobile networks or blocked social media apps during riots and protests, claiming that the measures were necessary to halt the flow of disinformation and incitement to violence. In March, online rumors that Muslims were trying to sterilize Sinhalese Buddhists in Sri Lanka led a group of Buddhist men to beat a Muslim man and set fire to his shop. In the ensuing weeks, extremists used Facebook to implore followers to “rape without leaving an iota behind” and “kill all Muslims, don’t even save an infant.” Authorities reacted by blocking four social media platforms that they said were amplifying hate speech."