Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar — known by his stage name Hiphop Sangee — has been granted bail after spending more than a week in remand under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Newswire reported on Friday night.

The 24-year-old was arrested by the Jaffna Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau and produced before the Chavakachcheri Magistrate’s Court under Section 3(G) of the PTA over allegations that social media content he shared promoted or glorified the LTTE. He had been remanded until June 17.

Critics, including Sri Lankan and international civil-society voices, had argued the artist was being targeted for political and artistic expression and called for his immediate release.

Bail comes against a backdrop of escalating international pressure. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Amnesty International publicly condemned the arrest as a “flagrant violation of free speech” earlier this week, with Amnesty calling for an immediate moratorium on the PTA and the law’s repeal. ITAK Parliamentary Group Leader Shanakiyan Rasamanickam separately raised the case directly with the EU’s South Asia head Charles Whiteley in Brussels, linking the detention to Sri Lanka’s GSP+ obligations.

Domestically, the case also drew unusual pushback from across the political spectrum. SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa accused the NPP government of misleading Tamil youth on selective use of the PTA, while Sarvajana Balaya MP Dilith Jayaweera called for a national protest over the arrest. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament earlier this week that the Inspector General of Police had met the Attorney General on the matter and that the government still distinguishes between banned LTTE promotion and lawful war-dead remembrance.

Today’s bail order does not dispose of the underlying PTA case, which remains active. Conditions of release and the next court date were not immediately disclosed.

Update — June 13: Sangee released, Namal welcomes: The artist was physically released on Saturday after spending more than a week in remand, Newswire reported. SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa welcomed the release in a post on X, saying: “I’m not going to comment on the politics behind this decision. What matters is that young artist Sangeethsan has been released and reunited with his family. I’m glad to see that happen.” Rajapaksa wished the artist well, expressing hope he would continue to pursue his talent “in a positive and meaningful way.” The underlying PTA case remains active.

Sources: Newswire — Tamil artist Hiphop Sangee granted bail; Newswire — Namal welcomes release of Tamil artist Hiphop Sangee.