Thillainathan appointed to Sri Lanka Press Council

The Chief Editor of 'Thinakaran' newspaper of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., S. Thillainathan has been appointed to the Sri Lanka Press Council by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Thillainathan is a veteran journalist with a vast experience in print and the electronic media. He started as a reporter in the Virakesari newspaper in 1962 and later joined the Davasa group of newspapers. He was also a senior news editor of SLBC's news division.

He was appointed founder program manager for the Tamil broadcasts when the first private radio station FM 99 was started by veteran broadcaster Livy Wijeyamanne. He went on to head all three language segments of the news division.

Thillai as he is better known, then joined the ITN's English program division and the Tamil news division for a short period, before being recruited as MTV's Shakthi FM/TV as news manager.

He also had a short stint in advertising, working as a senior copy writer at the Phoenix-Ogilvy. He later joined the Plantation Human Development Trust as a consultant.

He also worked as a consultant to the Young Asia Television and was also a freelance writer for several newspapers. In addition, he handled political program for ITN's Vasantham TV.

Thillainathan is also a member of the Public Performances Board.

He also has the rare distinction of being the first journalist who was acquitted by the District Court of Sri Lanka in a case filed against him by the Attorney General for refusing to divulge the source of information in 1972.