Resignation hits RTIC one day after first sitting

Senior lecturer Dr Athulasiri Samarakoon says he quit due to conflict of interest

Aday after the newly appointed Right To Information Commission ( RTIC) held its first sitting, one of the Commissioners tendered his resignation letter saying, “his professional engagement and political activism will be a hindrance to the Commission’s independence”.

Dr Athulasiri Samarakoon, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka tendered his resignation papers early this week, shortly after attending the first session of the Commission headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne.

“I am concerned that professional engagement with the university and political activism in the civil society sphere will create a conflict of interest while serving as a member in the Commission, which I believe should function fully independently,” Dr Samarakoon told the Sunday Times on his sudden resignation only days after accepting the appointment.

According to Section 12 (2) (a) (iii) of the RTI Act, any member is barred to hold any other public or judicial office or be employed/ practice any profession as a pre-condition for appointment. Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who heads the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) told the Sunday Times that Dr Samarakoon’s name was nominated by the Opposition with the recommendation from the NMSJ.

The former Speaker acknowledged that his organisation supported his nomination but was later informed about his resignation due to "professional commitments".

Meanwhile, a group of civil society organisations expressed their "deep concerns" about the appointment of its Chairman, retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne alleging his appointment undermines the spirit of the law, as it ignores several allegations against him including the alleged abuse of power, most recently in relation to his stint as chairperson of the controversial Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Political Victimisation.

Retired Justice Abeyratne remains as Chairman of the Office of Missng Persons (OMP) in addition to being the Chairman of the RTIC.