Jansz became editor of the paper after her predecessor Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated, and fell subject to frequent intimidation and harassment, including numerous death threats.

She conducted interviews with government soldiers and guerilla forces, and also served as an investigative journalist covering the Sri Lankan parliament.

"As one of the only female journalists in Sri Lanka, she established herself as a respected political reporter and became the anchor of a morning news show.

"[4] She joined The Sunday Leader, which has been described as a “politically fueled investigative newspaper”[4] and as Sri Lanka’s “lone independent voice,” in 1994.

"[18] In the winter of 2010, “Jansz interviewed the opposition candidate” in the presidential elections, “a former army commander in the Sri Lankan army,” who confirmed rumours “that the army had shot a group of Tamil Tiger rebel leaders as they attempted to surrender at the end of the war.” When Jansz ran the story, it led to the opposition’s election loss, thus making the newspaper “an enemy out of both the government and the opposition.”[18] In 2012, Jansz learned that Rajapaksa had arranged for Sri Lankan Airlines to bump a flightload of passengers, in order to transport a puppy from Switzerland to Sri Lanka for his wife.

[4] When Jansz called for his comment he said angrily: “If you and I were at the same function together and I were to point you out…90 percent of people there would want to see you dead…they will kill you.”[18][19] He went on to scream at her, "You are a f.... pig who eats shit," repeatedly.

She printed the full transcript of his tirade under the headline “Gota Goes Berserk.”[7] Jansz said that the article caused “a huge backlash against him” for which he reportedly “would never forgive” her.

The writing was on the wall.”[7] After she ran the story, she “was followed by motorbikes” and “received death threats.”[18] The groups Article 19 and PEN International expressed concern for her safety and called for an investigation into the threats.

[20] In September 2012, Asanga Seneviratne, an ally of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, bought a 72% stake in The Sunday Leader and its sister newspaper, Iruresa.

[7] According to Jansz, Seneviratne asked her stop publishing articles critical of the Sri Lankan government and the Rajapaksa family.

[22] Prior to her sacking, Jansz had applied via the Australian High Commission in Colombo for a humanitarian visa to resettle in Australia, citing death threats.