J. S. Tissainayagam

Who is J. S. Tissainayagam?

Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam is a Sri Lankan journalist. He was detained by the Terrorism Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police on March 7, 2008. He was held without charge for almost 6 months and then indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for intending to incite communal hatred through writing, and furthering terrorist acts through the collection of money for his publication. On August 31, 2009 he was convicted of the charges by the Colombo High Court and sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. On 15 September 2009 Tissainayagam launched an appeal against his conviction at the Court of Appeal. He was released on bail by the Court of Appeal on 11 January 2010 on medical grounds.

On May 3, 2010, to coincide with World Press Freedom Day, Tissainayagam was pardoned by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. After his release he has moved to the United States.