‘It’s good to amend the establishment code to suit RTI. But, more has to be done’ – lawyer Radika Gunaratne

Jan 01, 2017

Eliminating yet another hurdle in the way of implementing the right to information act (RTI), the Public Administration Ministry has decided to amend the establishment code. Parliamentary affairs and media deputy minister Karunaratne Paranawithana has said all state institutions could not be readied to make the act fully operational by February 04. It will be undertaken gradually, he said.

We contacted lawyer/journalist Radika Gunaratne of the SLPI’s islandwide programme on the RTI. She said the subject minister has a responsibility to ensure that the act became operational.

 

“Not only the establishment code, but also other laws and many institutions should be changed immediately in order to create the information culture envisaged through this act. But, the counter-argument here is that this law will supersede all, irrespective of whether the establishment code is amended or not, the establishment code, officials secrets act and other laws not consistent with the RTI. That is a notable feature of this act. That means, this act is powerful than all the existing laws. Anyway, this is a positive step because this will help resolve many practical problems in the implementation of the act. That encourages the information culture recommended and proposed by the act.”

 

However, the public has a very low awareness about this act, a milestone in Sri Lanka’s media freedom and right to information, she said.

 

“It appears there is no adequate understanding among the most on the broad definition of the public authorities. In fact, not only the establishment code, but also the services constitutions, services agreements and institutional ethics of information officers and other named officers within the public authorities should be changed. That will not be confined to state institutions only. Many do not know that public authorities include not only the state sector, but all the NGOs, certain private companies and even the foreign employment agencies. So, are there information officers in foreign employment agencies? They may not know about this.  Not only them, but also the journalists, who will be the main beneficiaries of the act, do not have proper understanding among them about this act. These are a few examples only. At this rate, the subject minister will not be able to create the atmosphere fully by February 04 to implement the act. But, everything should be expedited. The conscientious citizens are keeping a watch until the act is implemented,” she added.