Tissainayagam is to be charged on conspiracy to discredit government

Colombo High Court made the order after considering charges produced to the court by Attorney General (AG) against journalist JS Tissainayagam.

The AG has accused the journalist with conspiracy to discredit the government and trying to provoke racism by publishing a magazine 01 June 2006 and 01 January 2007.

'Already charged'

The accusations are filed under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Emergency Regulations and Sri Lanka Penal Code.

15 people, majority of them police officers, were called by the authorities as witnesses for the case.

	Govt. says the journalist, yet to be charged, was already indicted

It is the first time the authorities have published charges against Mr. Tissanayagam, who was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) on 06 March.

Sri Lanka government earlier told Human Rights Watch (HRW) that the Sunday Times columnist and the editor of Outreach Lanka website was already charged.

In a letter to HRW on 12 August, head of Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat and Secretary to the Ministry of Human Rights, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, said the journalist was charged on suspicions of having links with the LTTE.

“After investigation, which took time given the delicate nature of the case, he has now been charged,” Prof. Wijesinha’s letter stated.

International human rights watchdogs, including HRW and Amnesty International, and Sri Lankan media watchdogs continuously called for the authorities to charge or release him.