Tamil woman journalist released on bail

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 May 2006, 01:34 GMT]
The Colombo Additional Magistrate Mr.Vishantha Dassanayake on Friday ordered the release of Ms Sivaramya Sivanathan, relief-announcer of the State controlled Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) on personal bail when the Police told court that there was no evidence against her to file plaint, legal sources said. The Police arrested Ms Sivaramya Sivanathan last week when she was about to enter the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) to attend the first day proceeding of the World Press Freedom Day.

Although she produced her media accreditation card and the National Identity Card, the police arrested her, as she was not in possession of an invitation for the event.

Ms Sivaramya Sivanathan was produced in court Friday. Counsel appearing on behalf of her submitted to court that her client was a journalist and also a relief announcer in the government controlled SLBC. Furthermore she was working as a volunteer teacher in Colombo D.S.Senanayake College. She was arrested, as she was not in possession of an invitation for the event. Counsel begged court to discharge her from the case, legal sources said.

Police in its report submitted to court that there was no evidence to charge her with any offence. Hence there was no objection to release her on bail, legal sources said.

The Additional Magistrate thereafter ordered the release of the Tamil female journalist on personal in a sum of Rupees Five Thousand only. She was further ordered to appear in court on June 2nd, legal sources said.