Created in 1997 by UNESCO’s Executive Board, the Press Freedom Prize of $25,000 prize - financed by the Cano and Ottaway family foundations and by JP/Politiken Newspaper LTD - has been awarded to Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge posthumously this year.

The earlier award winners since 1997 have been as follows: Lydia Cacho (Mexico, 2008), Anna Politkovskaya (Russian Federation, 2007), May Chidiac (Lebanon, 2006), Cheng Yizhong, (China, 2005), Raúl Rivero (Cuba, 2004), Amira Hass (Israel, 2003), Geoffrey Nyarota (Zimbabwe, 2002), U Win Tin (Myanmar, 2001), Nizar Nayyouf (Syria, 2000), Jesus Blancornelas (Mexico, 1999), Christina Anyanwu (Nigeria, 1998), Gao Yu (China, 1997).

According to UNESCO, Wickrematunge was chosen by a jury of 14 professional journalists from around the world. He is the second reporter in the award'''s 12-year history to be awarded posthumously.