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    Fully pledged RTI Commission to execute powers of the Act Featured

    March 19, 2015

    Speaking at the weekly cabinet briefing held at Government Information Department today (19) Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information, Karunaratne Paranavithana, said that corrupt elements cannot play hell with an Right-To-Information (RTI) Act in place. This would enable the free flow of information regarding government tenders, transactions etc, according to the 100-day program of the newly elected regime.

    He pointed out that for any RTI law to be effective, there has to be an implementation authority. "A fully pledged RTI Commission will be responsible for executing the powers of the Act. The Commission will appoint various officers from the President’s office down to Divisional Secretariat level. It’s hoped that the public will make use of the provisions and wide awareness of their existence should be created. The media could play the most crucial role in this."

     

    Once enacted, the RTI law will have limitations as in the case of any RTI law but they are ‘realistic reservations’ such as those concerning national security and ethical norms such as individual privacy, pointed out the Media Secretary.

     

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