Media Has a Big Role to Play Under R2I Act

 The Right to Information Bill was first proposed in Sri Lanka in 2001. However Sri Lanka only succeeded in passing the Bill in 2016 and was became the last country in the South Asian region to pass a Right to Information Bill.

The Bill was passed in Parliament on the 24th of June this year with amendments.He said  the government will attempt to implement the Right to Information Act within a year.

While  Jayasuriya addressing the International Conference on Right to Information held in Colombo this morning said the Media Minister and a team will ensure the full implementation of the Bill and requested media and other stakeholders to contribute towards the execution of the Act.

Speaking at the first ever International Conference on Right to Information, he said the public must actively engage with authorities in order to implement regulations in the Bill adding the full implementation will ensure a reduction in financial fraud and corruption.

The Speaker said in many countries including in India, calls for a Right to Information Bill came from the general public however in Sri Lanka it came from the then opposition.

Addressing the International Conference Speaker Jayasuriya noted that with the implementation of the Bill Sri Lanka has joined elite countries in the world.

He said, “The Right to Information is a fundamental right. So the government led by the President and Prime Minister have ensured that right for our people.”

The Speaker noted that for the success of the bill the government require the support of all. Speaker Jayasuriya noted that the media has a big role to play adding media can create and destroy characters.

Speaker of House Karu Jayasuriya said the media has a huge responsibility and must be unbiased.

The Speaker noted the government should be commended for fulfilling the promise of a Right to Information Bill however said he regrets not being able to table the Bill before.