In Sri Lanka, the government has banned public officials from expressing their views on social media after news of school children fainting from hunger emerged.
According to the news agency AFP, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Administration and Management has instructed the country's 1.5 million officials not to express their views on social media.
It should be noted that the Sri Lankan government has also banned government officials from talking to journalists.
The ministry has issued this order following statements by provincial health department officials and teachers in which they claimed that dozens of students are fainting in schools due to lack of food.
Health Minister Kahelia Rambokwela has denied the claims, accusing those in the health sector of deliberately exaggerating the situation.
While the United Nations World Food Program has said in its recent report that six million Sri Lankans, i.e. one third of the population, are facing food shortages and need humanitarian assistance.
Since the end of 2021, Sri Lanka's two million population is facing the worst economic crisis.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has banned protests in the capital Colombo, cracking down on anti-government protesters.
This month, the Sri Lankan government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed on a $2.9 billion conditional financial package.
Sri Lanka's economic recovery hinges on a deal with creditors if they agree to restructure a $51 billion debt.
China, Sri Lanka's largest lender, has offered to extend more loans but not to restructure previous loans.
