Press Release: Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the verdict against the Sri Lankan journalist, Mr J.S. Tissainayagam

The European Union is troubled by the severe sentence of 20 years hard labour in prison passed by the Colombo High Court on journalist Mr J.S. Tissainayagam on 31 August 2009. The verdict and the disproportionate sentence against Mr Tissainayagam give rise to concern with respect to freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Sri Lanka.