Right to Information Bill in Parliament on 23 June

Thursday, 16 June 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The amended Right to Information (RTI) Bill will be presented in Parliament on 23 June for a second reading, Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Karunaratna Paranavithana said on Tuesday.

Addressing a meeting at the Department of Government Information, the Deputy Minister affirmed the proposed bill will allow the public to get information regarding public authorities and it will be an important feature for the Government to be responsible at a higher level.

The proposed RTI Bill is expected to make changes in a moderate way to uphold good governance and the state function, according to the Deputy Minister.

The Deputy Minister said all government employees should be trained for the task with an attitudinal change in their minds.

The Government earlier presented the draft bill to Parliament on 24 March for its first reading. However, the Supreme Court in May declared that certain clauses of the bill violate the constitution and it will need a two-thirds majority in Parliament to become law. The Court further determined that the inconsistencies will cease to operate, and the Bill may be passed by a simple majority, if amendments are made as directed by the Supreme Court to the Clauses that are in violation of the Constitution.

The Government subsequently formed a committee to study the clauses that are in violation and introduce amendments to the draft bill.