11 December, 2024

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RTI To Be Debated In Parliament On June 23

The Right to Information (RTI) Bill will be debated in Parliament on June 23.

Gayantha Karunatilake - Minister Media

Gayantha Karunatilake – Minister Media

The bill was presented to Parliament in March for it’s first reading. The Right to Information Bill provides for the establishment of the right to Information Commission, setting out the procedures for obtaining information and for matters connected, in an effort to uphold the people’s right to know.

In May however the Bill received a setback after the Supreme Court ruled that certain clauses of the bill was in violation of the Constitution, and steps must be taken to amend them accordingly.

The Supreme Court also ordered that the bill must be passed by a special majority in Parliament, if it is to be made a law in the country.

Latest comments

  • 0
    0

    Today’s main problem with the central or local governments officers is the officers concerned do not respond to the letters addressed to them by general public. It was government policy to respond immediately when a public is sent any letter to any publc office. During British rule this practice perfectly done and i observed that the present administrative officers are mainly responsible for this situation as they have become the heads of more or less all the public offices.Therefore special provisions must include that publc officers must immediately respond wherever there are ltters regarding either information, clarification ,and laws related to the matters concerned. Further, a clear cut procedure has to adopted for gaining information from public offices and who and who responsible for such duties and disciplinary action must be taken against such officers who responsible for not releasing specially laws, rules and procedures adopted for things processed by public offices.

  • 2
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    Gayantha Karunatilake – Minister Media

    RE: RTI To Be Debated In Parliament On June 23

    “The bill was presented to Parliament in March for it’s first reading. The Right to Information Bill provides for the establishment of the right to Information Commission, setting out the procedures for obtaining information and for matters connected, in an effort to uphold the people’s right to know.”

    If the Politicians have the Right to Tax People, Add VAT Taxes, and Provide Luxury Vehicles for the MPs, People certainly need to have a right as to why.

    “The Supreme Court also ordered that the bill must be passed by a special majority in Parliament, if it is to be made a law in the country.”

    What if the Special Majority in Parliament are crooks?

    Can’t this bill be put to a referendum of the people? after All, it is people who wants to know.

  • 1
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    Let information move itself; we, the people can rely on it.

    Grapevine is more reliable than organized, altered, adulterated, cut and pasted content.

    Don’t give incentives in any form to journalists; it’s a bribe for them.

    Journalists enjoying (especially state) incentives can’t be considered journalists.

    In other words there’s no need for media ministry.

    That’s how right to information is guaranteed.

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