J.S. Tissainayagam has been nominated for a media freedom award for defending the freedom of information by the international media rights group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF). J.S. Tissainayagam is one of six journalists to be nominated for the award for "journalists who through their work, their principled stand or their attitude have displayed support for freedom of information." J.S. Tissainayagam remains in detention in Magazine Prison, Colombo.

Further Information

Front Line is deeply concerned by reports of the transfer of human rights defender J.S. Tissanayagam to Magazine Prison in Colombo, on 18 November 2008. J.S. Tissanayagam is a freelance journalist for The Sunday Times and The Daily Mirror as well as chief editor of Outreach Multimedia, an online magazine established in January 2008 to highlight human rights issues in Sri Lanka. Front Line issued an Urgent Appeal concerning the case of J.S. Tissanayagam on 11 March 2008, following his arrest and detention by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) along with five other journalists. Following his arrest, J.S. Tissanayagam was detained without charge for more than 150 days before he was charged on 25 August with three counts under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). His case is currently being heard by the High Court in Colombo.

On 18 November 2008, J.S. Tissanayagam was moved from the Remand Prison, where he had been held since 20 August 2008, to the Magazine Prison. No reason has been given to J.S. Tissanayagam, or his lawyer, for this sudden move. Magazine Prison is well-known for its ill-treatment of Tamil prisoners. Reports indicate that J.S. Tissanayagam is currently being held in a room with 140 convicted criminals. Since his transfer, J.S. Tissanayagam has allegedly not eaten; on 18 November 2008, his dinner was taken by other prisoners and he was not given lunch on the 18 November or breakfast on the 19 November.

On 17 November 2008, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister for Human Rights and Disaster Management, had visited J.S. Tissanayagam at the Remand Prison with the Prison Commissioner. At the meeting, the Minister and the Prison Commissioner had agreed to improve the living conditions of the prison. J.S. Tissanayagam was transferred, without explanation, to Magazine Prison the following day.

Prior to being held at the Remand Prison, J.S. Tissanayagam had been held at the TID premises since his arrest on 7 March 2008 when he went to investigate the detention of his colleagues, V. Jesikaran and Vadivel Valarmathi, who had been detained by the TID. On 25 August 2008 he was charged with three counts, including committing an offence by printing, publishing and distributing the magazine ´North Eastern Monthly´ during the period June 1, 2006 to June 1, 2007 and thereby committing an office punishable under the PTA. He is also charged under the Emergency Regulations Act for making payments or collecting funds from Non-Governmental Organisation to run the aforementioned magazine.

Front Line is concerned that the transfer of J.S. Tissanayagam to Magazine Prison is directly related to his legitimate and peaceful activities in defence of human rights in Sri Lanka, in particular his work to defend the right to freedom of expression, including through his involvement in Outreach Multimedia which has been openly critical of the authorities in its coverage of human rights abuses. Front Line believes that his arrest, detention and this latest transfer may be seen as part of an ongoing campaign of intimidation against the media to dissuade them from continuing with their work to highlight the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of J.S. Tissanayagam while in detention in Magazine Prison and fears that he may be subject to torture and ill-treatment.