RTI Commission to classify and disseminate information

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

A Right to Information Commission will be set up to facilitate the process of classifying and disseminating information. It would consist of five persons appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena on the recommendations of the Constitutional Council. It would monitor the performance and ensure the due compliance by public authorities.

The draft bill on the Right to Information approved by Cabinet earlier this month will soon be tabled in Parliament for approval and ratification, Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilake told the Sunday Observer.

"At present RTI bill is being discussed at Provincial level. The Southern Provincial Council has unanimously approved the draft bill. After the bill is approved by the Provincial Councils, it will be presented to Parliament for approval," he said.

The RTI bill which was gazetted has been posted on the public domain for discussion and public opinion. The Government intends to pass the RTI as an urgent bill early next year, the Minister said.

The Cabinet approved the draft bill on December 2. It would ensure the right of citizens to obtain official information and thereby strengthen democracy and good governance .

"Although Sri Lanka is a relative latecomer in this area - being the only country in South Asia apart from Bhutan that has yet to adopt an RTI law," he said