J. S. Tissainayagam

J. S. Tissainayagam
OccupationJournalist

Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam (known as J. S. Tissainayagam, Tamil: ஜெயப்பிரகாஷ் சிற்றம்பலம் திசைநாயகம்) is a Sri Lankan journalist. He was detained by the Terrorism Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police on 7 March 2008. He was held without charge for almost 6 months. He was indicted on politically motivated charges under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act for intending to incite communal hatred through writing, and furthering terrorist acts through the collection of money for his publication.[1] On 31 August 2009, he was convicted of the charges by the Colombo High Court and sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.[2]

After an international outcry where US President Barack Obama called him one of the "emblematic examples" of journalist being harassed around the world[3] Tissainayagam was pardoned by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 3 May 2010, World Press Freedom Day.[4]

  1. ^ "International call for justice for jailed Sri Lankan Journalist | IMS". 7 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Bail for jailed Sri Lankan editor". BBC News. 11 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Statement by the President in honor of World Press Freedom Day". whitehouse.gov. May 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2013 – via National Archives.
  4. ^ Silva, Dianne (22 May 2010). "Pardon when Tissa withdraws appeal case". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 May 2010.