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"We continue to be concerned about the state of media freedom in Sri Lanka. Journalists remain under threat and consequently continue to practice self-censorship," he added.
"We will continue to follow Tissainayagam’s case closely as it proceeds through the appeals process," Wood said in an email exchange with AFP.
"We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to do everything it can to ensure Tissainayagam's health and safety in prison," he added.
Tissainayagam, 45, who contributed to the local Sunday Times and ran a website, Outreachsl.com, that focused on the island's minority Tamils, was found guilty on three counts under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
A court official said he was ordered to do 20 years of hard labor in jail.
He was found guilty on charges of receiving money from the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to fund his website and causing racial hatred through his writings about Tamils affected by the conflict.
Obama mentioned Tissainayagam in his May 1 World Press Freedom day statement describing him as an "emblematic example" of a journalist who was being persecuted for doing his work. Sri Lanka said Obama had been misinformed.
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"We will continue to follow Tissainayagam’s case closely as it proceeds through the appeals process," Wood said in an email exchange with AFP.
"We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to do everything it can to ensure Tissainayagam's health and safety in prison," he added.
Tissainayagam, 45, who contributed to the local Sunday Times and ran a website, Outreachsl.com, that focused on the island's minority Tamils, was found guilty on three counts under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
A court official said he was ordered to do 20 years of hard labor in jail.
He was found guilty on charges of receiving money from the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to fund his website and causing racial hatred through his writings about Tamils affected by the conflict.
Obama mentioned Tissainayagam in his May 1 World Press Freedom day statement describing him as an "emblematic example" of a journalist who was being persecuted for doing his work. Sri Lanka said Obama had been misinformed.
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