05 December, 2008 - Published 15:40 GMT

Tissa confession 'voluntary'

The Colombo High Court has ruled that the confession made by detained journalist JS Tissainayagam has proved to be made voluntarily.

Mr. Tissainayagam has told the court at the initial hearing that the confession was made under pressure from the police.

However, the court ruled that the confession was voluntary.

Tissainayagam was arrested in March and charged with inciting violence in articles published in his magazine, the North Eastern Monthly.

The magazine has been closed and the journalist is being held in prison in Colombo.

Media watchdogs and human rights groups have called on the authorities to release the journalist.

The Human Rights Watch also called for the release of the Tamil publisher, N. Jasiharan, and his wife, who were also arrested in March.

The hearing was postponed until 18 December.