"The mission found that censorship exists, although it is applied largely through indirect means," they said. "The willingness of politicians and others to denounce the media reinforces self-censorship and makes the free expression of opinion a life threatening activity."

They said the state of emergency imposed by the government in August last year gave security forces wide powers to control the media although such laws had not been openly used.

The five-member panel representing, among others the International Press Institute, International Media Support, the International Federation of Journalists, the International News Safety Institute and Reporters without Borders, noted that eight journalists and employees of news media had been killed in Sri Lanka in the past year.

"The international mission found that there has been a serious deterioration in the security situation for the Sri Lankan media with threats, abductions and attacks committed by all parties in the conflict.

Thomas Hughes, a panel member from International Media Support, said the authorities appeared keen to investigate the killings and threats against journalists and they would monitor progress.

"We have to take the promises of the government at face value," Hughes told reporters. "We are not going to sit back, we will follow up."

He said the government offered assurances that police and security forces should not interfere with editorial content of newspapers and agreed to investigate any transgressions.

"Generally, we found the government keen to be cooperative and interested in having a discussion on a broad range of issues," Hughes said.