Local journalists have already criticised the planned media code, which is set to be adopted shortly by lawmakers, as being too sweeping and now international advocacy groups have added their voice to the criticism.
"Sri Lankan journalists are already under enormous pressure not to be critical of the government, and the vagueness of this code will likely lead to greater self-censorship to avoid government retaliation," said Brad Adams, the Asia director of Human Rights Watch.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists also criticised President Mahinda Rajapaske's government for focusing on such a code at a time when it is preparing to host a Commonwealth summit in November.
"Mahinda Rajapakse's regime should stop expending energy on imposing a code that would further suppress the country's already dwindling free press," said the CPJ's Asia programme coordinator Bob Dietz.
The new code drawn up by the information ministry seeks to prohibit "material against the integrity of the