Daily Mirror: Sri Lanka: Friday,
March 10, 2017.
It is
encouraging to see that Sri Lanka’s Right to Information (RTI) Commission has
released its 2017 budget estimate, including the salary scales of the
Commission members and staff along with its recruitment procedures and cadre
provision.
As the
Commission Chairperson has pointed out in a response sent to a citizen, who had
requested that information, this is only an estimate, which is now being
discussed by the Commission with the Ministry of Finance, as required in terms
of the RTI Act, No. 12 of 2016. The Commission was hampered at the start by not
having a separate budgetary allocation in the National Budget for 2017.
Three
members, Mahinda Gammanpila (Chairperson), Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena and S.G.
Punchihewa were appointed in October last year by President Maithripala
Sirisena on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council. But the other two
members, A.W.A. Salam and Selvy Thiruchandran were appointed only at the end of
the year.
As a result,
the Commission has only now been able to start getting its allocations in
order. Nevertheless, the fact that even the budget estimates were provided in
response to a request by a citizen is a pointer to the new transparent culture
that Sri Lanka needs to embrace. This could be a role model for public
authorities, including the other Independent Commissions.
Regulation 20
Gazetted under the RTI Act on February 3 this year imposes this obligation in
general. Some institutions may hesitate to provide budget details fearing
damage done by mischief makers.
But they need
not fear. Competition, if this is what they fear, can be out in the open. Where
there is a real danger, the RTI Act itself provides exceptions to providing
information. That is, of course, subject to the public interest.
Therefore,
the fear factor should not stifle the provision of information. The RTI
Commission’s action is a clarion call that others need to follow regardless of
apprehensions. Certainly mischief makers are galore, where RTI is concerned.
Some seem to want the RTI culture to fail. Others are indignant about the Main
Stream Media and its failings.
However, when
they point three fingers at someone else, it is worthwhile to remember that two
fingers point back at them. As the great religions teach us, the truth will
always triumph.
Meanwhile,
the Government is slowly but surely coming under the RTI Law. The Cabinet of
Ministers has appointed an Information Officer as have many other Ministries,
including the Foreign Affairs Ministry. We also heard the glad news that the
Moratuwa Municipal Council has complied with its voluntary disclosure
requirements.
The MC
publicly advertised a list of projects for which Rs. 27 million has been
allocated, stating that this advertisement was “For all persons that (who) may
be affected in terms of the provisions of the Right to Information Act No. 12
of 2016,” by a list of projects to be undertaken.
The 40
projects include repairs to drains, paving roads and construction of boundary
walls.
It is also
heartening to see a professional body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants
of Sri Lanka, conforming to the RTI Law and appointing its Information Officer
and publishing details relevant to the RTI Act up on its websites. It is a good
move. We understand that RTI requests are being filed against Non-Governmental
Organisations, which engage in State projects covered by the RTI Act.
The RTI
seeds, which are today, in some cases, planted on inhospitable or dry soil, may
be the genesis of a bountiful harvest many years later for Sri Lanka.
So, this is
why seekers of information and the RTI Commission must hammer away, despite
mischievous obstacles being put in its way. This country will be beholden to
these genuine pioneers of RTI, who persevere, disregarding the stones that will
inevitably be thrown at them.