Right to Information Bill will create better governance: TISL
Wednesday, 11 February 2015 00:28
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By Waruni Paranagamage
The Right to Information Bill will establish an improved approach to building good governance, according to Transparency International Sri Lanka Executive Director S. Ranukge.
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo yesterday, he said that even though the previous Government had addressed the freedom to information of the people, the 100-day plan, which is currently being implemented by the newly elected Government, has addressed the right to information through the new Bill.
He said a copy of the Bill’s draft act is going to be presented to the Cabinet next week.
He emphasised that even though there had been an indication that the Bill would be developed in consultation with relevant parties, to date neither civil society groups, lawyers nor the media had been consulted.
He stated that Issue Papers, Green Papers and White Papers were some of the best approaches that were used by other countries to get people’s participation to the decision-making of the Government.
He said that the official Bill was needed so that parties who were willing to provide consultation could help create a better Act.
“The right to information enhances the ability of the people to approach information on Government decision-making and provides the ability to participate in the decision-making process of the Government,” he said.
Human rights activist and Attorney-at-Law S.G. Punchihewa said the Bill still needed to address some other key areas. Listing the benefits of the Act, he described that the right to information was not only for a party such as the media but for every citizen in the country and it would strengthen them by getting them to participate in the decision-making process of the Government.
He added that the Act would create greater transparency surrounding the appointment of key officials to the Government’s administration.
