Govt, Opposition MPs hail RTI bill 

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

In a major victory for the people, the long awaited Right to Information legislation was broadly accepted as necessary to creating a transparent, inclusive and democratic culture of governance in Sri Lanka, with Government and Opposition members hailing the draft bill in Parliament yesterday.  

Joining the debate from the opposition JVP MP Dr.Nalinda Jayatissa said that RTI laws would widen democracy and lay the foundations for a civilised society. “We need to look into the execution by not limiting RTI to another law passed in the Parliament. Our Constitution talks about public sovereignty. Having won an election, the politicians reject the voters. What it should be is a Government of the people, a Government by the people, and a Government for the people,” Dr Jayatissa said. 

The JVP MP said the RTI bound the Government into an agreement with the people. “Moving this bill in parliament itself is a victory,” he noted.  

According to Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka RTI was a better tool for media to be responsible and effective. “Gone are the days the media reports contained unconfirmed data and information picked up from different places. With the RTI in place media could start more effective investigative stories. Not only the media but the public will also benefit from greater access to Government information,” said Minister Karunathilaka.

Explaining the delayed effects of the RTI Bill Minister Karunathilaka said the Government would establish offices at village level to provide information of all state institutions, including ministries, departments and the police. 

“The RTI office is bound to provide information within 14 days of submission. However, the data and information will be limited for 10 years,” he explained. 

Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan strongly supported the enactment of the RTI legislation, saying that helping citizens to understand how the Government works helps them in return. “People should have the right to information if democracy is to prevail in the country. In the absence of right to information there will be no supremacy. People should know about all things happening in the country. Some could see this as an unwarranted move. But the government is nothing but a trustee bound to provide information,” Sampanthan explained. 

State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Niroshan Perera used his time to dismiss what he called unwarranted fears about RTI laws adversely impacting national security. “RTI has no implication on national security. This is a myth. The RTI bill was presented in the Parliament with the basis of establishing democracy. Previous Governments avoided passing the RTI. We believe the RTI passed in this Parliament will last for a long time in the country,” Perera noted.