His Excellency Dayanada Rupasoma Perera
333 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1C1

September 1, 2009

Dear Ambassador,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE is appalled by the sentencing of journalist Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam to 20 years in prison on August 31.

Tissainayagam, an ethnic Tamil journalist with the newspaper the Sunday Times and editor of the Outreach website, was arrested by the police Terrorist Investigation Division on March 7, 2008. The Sri Lankan government accused him of inciting violence based on two articles he wrote in 2006 and that he had accepted funds from the rebel group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to pay for his website. These charges do not appear to have any foundation.

Tissainayagam's conviction is the first time a journalist has been found guilty of violating the country's Prevention of Terrorism Act. Observers have stated that the trial was severely flawed, for instance, Tissainayagam was denied private contact with his lawyer.

CJFE believes that the right to a free press is a fundamental component of a functioning democracy. This right is protected under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights, which Sri Lanka has ratified as Article 14 in its constitution. The fight against terrorism should not be used an excuse to silence critical and independent journalists.

CJFE calls for the immediate release of Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam. It is time that the Sri Lankan government renews its commitment to the constitutional right of Sri Lankan citizens to freedom of speech.

We thank you for your attention and look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Arnold Amber, President

c.c.: Angela Bogdan, Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka;
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs