As the Right to Information Act becomes operational today in Sri Lanka after more than fifteen years of struggle by citizens and the media, Colombo Telegraph learns that in terms of the Fee Schedule laid down by the Right to Information (RTI) Commission, no fees can be charged by Public Authorities when RTI requests are submitted.
This is a change from many countries elsewhere in the world where a fee has to be paid at the very first stage itself. The RTI Commission had published a Public Notice on the 29th of January 2017 confirming that its Rules and proposed Regulations had been sent to the Ministry of Media to be gazetted. According to inquiries made, the gazette will be out shortly. Under the Rules on Fees, the Commission has stipulated once a request is submitted and if a decision is made to provide information, whatever information given on 4 (A4 size) pages should be free to all citizens. Charges after that are minimal.
The RTI Commission has also stated that all information that a Public Authority provides on email should be free. Inspection of documents should also be free for the first 1 hour with minimal charges thereafter. Colombo Telegraph welcomes this pro-active position taken on fees on the basis of maximum disclosure.
From today, RTI requests can be filed in Public Authorities including constitutional and statutory bodies, government, provincial and local bodies, corporate bodies funded by the government, educational institutions and non-governmental organizations. RTI requests can be filed even on a sheet of paper with the following details;
Application to receive Information from Public Authorities (PAs)
Information Officer,
01. Name of Requestor – ………………………………………………..
02. Address – …………………………….
03. Contact No. (if any) -………………………….
04. Email Address (if any) – ………………..
05. Details about Information requested
I. Specific Public Authority ……………………………….
II. Information requested ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
III. Specific period information is requested (if applicable)………………
06. Manner in which information is requested– (ie would you like to-)
i. inspect relevant work, documents, records
ii. take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records
iii. take certified samples of material
iv. obtain information in the form of CD/DVD/storage media/tapes/video cassettes/ any other electronic mode/ printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device.
07. Language in which requestor prefers access -……………………….
08. Does the information request concern the life and personal liberty of a citizen? (Yes/No)
If Yes, give reason for belief – …………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
09. Any other details- ………………………………………………….
10. Relevant documents attached (If any)
I. ……………………………
II. …………………………….
III. …………………………….
11. Is the requestor a citizen of Sri Lanka? (Yes/No)
Date: –
Signature:-
Silva / February 3, 2017
Does anyone know Where we have to go to make an application?
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Amarasiri / February 3, 2017
Right to Information (RTI) Commission,
“As the Right to Information Act becomes operational today in Sri Lanka after more than fifteen years of struggle by citizens and the media, Colombo Telegraph learns that in terms of the Fee Schedule laid down by the Right to Information (RTI) Commission, no fees can be charged by Public Authorities when RTI requests are submitted.”
Thank you, no fees are charged.
However, is there a time period to provide the information? Is the wait going to be 1 month, 1 year, 10 yeas or 100 years?
05. Details about Information requested
I. Specific Public Authority ……………………………….
II. Information requested ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
All the transactions over Rs. 10 million conducted under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Regime from 2005 to 2015, tabulated by the project, by the bidders, the payments made and the final cost to the taxpayer.
Example: Hambantota Port: Original cost U S $ 600 million.
Actual Cost paid US $1,200 million. Full details of this transaction and approvals, and the recipients of the finds, and the work performed in return for the funds.
III. Specific period information is requested (if applicable)………………
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Sunil / February 3, 2017
Can we have all the documents of all the investment deals during the Rajapaksas.
Make public all the deals with China.
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Citizens / February 3, 2017
Colombo Telegraph, can you send someone to request for the documents of all the Port City, Mattala Airport, Hambantota Harbor deals and publish them!?
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Silva / February 5, 2017
These deals are made by for the government on behalf of the people of this country but the documents are not available to the public!?
Anyone asked the question why a government that represents its people cant make this information available to the people it represents!?
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Lone Wolf / February 4, 2017
Here is the link to the Gazette with all information:
http://documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2017/2/2004-66_E.pdf
REGULATIONS PROMULGATED UNDER THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, No. 12 OF 2016
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He is coming are you ready ? / February 6, 2017
SAITM -Director’s Car was shot at and he escaped from any harm.
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9 PM English news News 1st-6th/03/2017
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so it is a clear sign democracy has miserably failed in Sri Lanka and is not suitable.
Like Iraq and Libya- does anyone think Removing MR was a wrong decision?
no-one dared to protest against this college which was established during his regime and MR personally presented many with Scholarships to this College too.
So how come so many heroes on the street today and not during MR time?
I believe Sri Lanka and Lankans deserve MR, he will teach everyone a lesson of their life. I believe the government may just call him and hand over the Country like what the British did.
No struggle no election. The people will be put in their places.
End of the year from 2019 MR will make sure no one will have the balls to stage protests all the heroes will become micros and vanish into thin Air.
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