Aug 20, Colombo: The Free Media Movement (FMM) citing reliable media sources say Sunday Times columnist J. S. Tissainayagam, who has been held in detention in the custody of the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) since 7th March 2008, has finally been indicted in the High Court.

High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundara set the trial date on August 25 and issued warrants on the accused, ordering the Magistrates Court Registrar to forward the productions and the B report. The Court also ordered the Attorney General to appear in the Court and directed the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Police Department to forward reports and other IB extracts with regard to the investigation to the Court.

Mr. Tissainayagam is charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in respect of the printing, publishing, and distribution of the magazine known as the ‘North Eastern Monthly’ during the period between 1st June 2006 and 1st June 2007, offences under the PTA in respect of bringing the government into disrepute by the publication of articles in the said magazine, and the violation of Emergency Regulations issued under Gazette Extraordinary 1474/5 of December 2006, by aiding and abetting terrorist organisations through the raising of money for the said magazine.