ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA NEEDS IN CDLG PROVINCES Supported by This report is part of an initiative supported under the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka with the financial assistance of the European Union (EU). CDLG is a four-year project (2020-2023) targeting the Eastern, Northern, North-Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka. It is part of the European Union’s STRIDE (Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation and Inclusive Democratic Engagement) programme focused on strengthening the capacities of local government authorities to be inclusive, responsive and accountable, and improve service delivery. *Disclaimer This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................................................................................ 3 Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Media Landscape in Sri Lanka: An overview ......................................................................................... 11 2. Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 12 3. Structure and Presentation of the Report ...................................................................................... 13 4. Report for Eastern Province .............................................................................................................. 14 4.1 Ranking of type of national-level information sought after by the respondents ............................. 14 4.2 Primary source that respondents accessed to know about the national-level information. .................................................................................................................................................. 16 4.3 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about the national-level information. ......................................................................................................................... 19 4.4 Primary source that respondents accessed for local-level information. ............................................. 20 4.5 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about the local-level information. ............................................................................................................................... 23 4.6 Ranking of preferred media for accessing information on local development ................................ 24 4.7 Access to critical information pertaining to local authorities .............................................................. 26 4.8 Frequency and quality of communication from Local Authorities .................................................... 29 4.9 Access to critical information pertaining to divisional secretariats..................................................... 33 4.10 Frequency and quality of communication from Divisional Secretariats.......................................... 35 4.11 Primary source that respondents accessed to know about Covid-19 Pandemic ............................ 38 4.12 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about Covid-19. ...................................................................................................................................................... 41 5. Report for Northern Province .................................................................................................................... 42 5.1 Ranking of type of national-level information sought after by the respondents ............................. 43 5.2 Primary source that respondents accessed to know about the national-level information. ........... 45 5.3 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about the national-level information. ......................................................................................................................... 47 5.4 Primary source that respondents accessed for local-level information. ............................................. 49 5.5 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about the local-level information. ............................................................................................................................... 51 5.6 Ranking of preferred media for accessing information on local development ................................ 53 5.7 Access to critical information pertaining to local authorities .............................................................. 54 5.8 Frequency and quality of communication from Local Authorities .................................................... 57 5.9 Access to critical information pertaining to divisional secretariats..................................................... 61 5.10 Frequency and quality of communication from Divisional Secretariats.......................................... 63 5.11 Primary source that respondents accessed to know about Covid-19 Pandemic ............................ 66 1|P a g e 5.12 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about Covid-19. ................................................................................................................................................... 69 6. Report for North Central Province ........................................................................................................... 71 6.1 Ranking of type of national-level information sought after by the respondents ............................. 71 6.2 Primary source that respondents accessed to know about the national-level information. ........... 73 6.3 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about the national-level information. ......................................................................................................................... 76 6.4 Primary source that respondents accessed for local-level information. ............................................. 77 6.5 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about the local-level information. ............................................................................................................................... 80 6.6 Ranking of preferred media for accessing information on local development ................................ 81 6.7 Access to critical information pertaining to local authorities .............................................................. 83 6.8 Frequency and quality of communication from Local Authorities .................................................... 85 6.9 Access to critical information pertaining to divisional secretariats..................................................... 89 6.10 Frequency and quality of communication from Divisional Secretariats.......................................... 92 6.11 Primary source that respondents accessed to know about Covid-19 Pandemic ............................ 95 6.12 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about Covid-19. ...................................................................................................................................................... 97 7. Report for Uva Province ............................................................................................................................... 99 7.1 Ranking of type of national-level information sought after by the respondents ............................. 99 7.2 Primary source that respondents accessed to know about the national-level information. ......... 101 7.3 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about the national-level information. ....................................................................................................................... 104 7.4 Primary source that respondents accessed for local-level information. ........................................... 105 7.5 Feedback on the reliability of the primary source that respondents accessed to know about the local-level information. ............................................................................................................................. 108 7.6 Ranking of preferred media for accessing information on local development .............................. 109 7.7 Access to critical information pertaining to local authorities ............................................................ 111 7.8 Frequency and quality of communication from Local Authorities .................................................. 113 7.9 Access to critical information pertaining to divisional secretariats................................................... 117 7.10 Frequency and quality of communication from Divisional Secretariats........................................ 120 7.11 Primary source that respondents