RTI Commission marks World RTI Day on optimistic note

This shows that the Right to Information is vital to the democratic system and that enforcing the transparency of state and non-state actors directly impact in reducing corruption, the statement noted.

Citizens have become part of the governance process and themselves proactively monitor the management of affairs of state, the Commission has said. It has pointed out that though there are still delays at the stage of information release, it is confident that the culture of information denial that has long been prevalent in Sri Lanka, is changing to the positive.

Marking International RTI Day, the Commission engaged with senior public officials and citizens in the Galle District through a series of public consultations starting from Baddegama on September 24. Further, global sessions hosted by UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France on International RTI Day will feature an address by RTI Commissioner and senior at t o r ney- at - l aw Kishali PintoJayawardena on Sri Lanka’s experiences with RTI.

As the primary appeal and policy making body under the internationally recognised Right to Information Act, No 12 of 2016, the RTIC has stated that it is greatly heartened by the regional and international interest shown in Sri Lanka’s RTI progress.

It has further stated that its effort has been to hold public hearings in collaboration with relevant District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, other senior public officers and citizens in Sri Lanka’s provinces, most particularly in areas that lack access to resources. As such, public consultations have been held in Panama in the Ampara District, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya D i s t r i c t , S o o r i yawewa in the Hambantota District, Killinochchi in the Kilinochchi District, Jaffna in the Jaffna District, Karuwalagaswewa in the Puttalam District, Mahiyangana and Bandarawela in the Badulla District, Kanthale in the Trincomalee District and Nawalapitiya in the Kandy District.

Up to date, the RTIC has handed down about 2000 orders directing the release of information from Public Authorities at district, divisional and central level, which directives have been complied with, apart from five instances that are now in appeal in the Court of Appeal. The Commission has placed on record its appreciation of the support of the Public Authorities in the working of the Commission and the RTI Act.

As an independent Commission acting in the public interest, in which confidence is reposed by both information requestors and the Public Authorities, the Commission has stated that Sri Lanka demonstrates the enormous value of an RTI law working for the benefit of the public when the public itself is given a role to play in that process.

It has stressed that the information empowerment of the citizenry through the RTI regime, consisting of the constitutional Right to Information ( Article 14A), the RTI Act and an independent RTI Commission as guaranteed by law, must continue for the betterment of the country.