SRI LANKA: Newspaper editor released

1 May 2009

RAN 14/09 - Update #1

International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee welcomes the release on 24 April 2009 of newspaper editor Nadesapillai Vithyatharan, who had been held since 26 February 2009 under emergency legislation, apparently for his reporting and activism.

According to PEN's information, Nadesapillai Vithyatharan, editor-in-chief of the Tamil-language dailies Sudar Oli and Uthayan, was released from prison as ordered by a Court in Colombo on 24 April 2009. The Colombo Criminal Division (CCD) and other departments leading the investigation against Vithyatharan dropped the case for lack of evidence, after he had spent two months behind bars for alleged terrorist activities.

For the previous WiPC alert on Vithyatharan's case see here.

No further action is required.

For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk