The Sunday Times: Sri Lanka: Monday, 24 August 2026.
The Right to Information Commission on Friday (August 21) launched the digitalisation of its appeal process, in a move aimed at making it more accessible, efficient and transparent for citizens.
The new system will
digitalise the receipt, registration, processing and communication of appeals,
reducing the need for appellants to submit physical documents and make repeat
visits to the commission.
Speaking at the launch, Chairman Daya Lankapura said the commission was currently functioning with inadequate staff, with only around 17 against a requirement of about 35.
He added the Commission had previously received support for additional legal researchers from external agencies such as the World Bank but that, with the ending of that support, the Commission had been left with only a highly inadequate staff cadre with little capacity to cope with an increased workload.
“However, we have received approval to fill around 11 vacancies, and recruitment is underway. We believe that we will be able to work more efficiently from now on,” he said.
Mr. Lankapura also pointed
to vacancies among the commissioners as another issue affecting the appeal
process. “We have received complaints that the appeal process takes a long
time. The reasons were the issues I mentioned. This digitalisation process, together
with the increase in our staff, will help us provide a better service to the
general public,” he said.
Addressing the launch, partner KBSL Information Technologies Limited’s Chairman Vasee Nesiah said: “The RTI Act didn’t give us a new right. It simply gave us the keys to a home we already owned, to establish a structural legal process and to demand transparency from industries, public departments, local authorities, and state bank entities.”
He said the Government’s digitalisation project would allow for faster appeals and hearings and smoother access for people.
“Applying technology for the sake of modernisation is not a good enough reason to commit time, effort and money. Technology is most effective when you solve a problem or deliver a better outcome in a timelier, more reliable manner. We believe we are witnessing just that at today’s launch of RTI online,” Mr. Nesiah said.
The Right to Information Commission on Friday (August 21) launched the digitalisation of its appeal process, in a move aimed at making it more accessible, efficient and transparent for citizens.
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RTIC Chairman Daya
Lankapura (right) and RTIC Director General K.D.S. Ruwanchandra at the launch. |
Speaking at the launch, Chairman Daya Lankapura said the commission was currently functioning with inadequate staff, with only around 17 against a requirement of about 35.
He added the Commission had previously received support for additional legal researchers from external agencies such as the World Bank but that, with the ending of that support, the Commission had been left with only a highly inadequate staff cadre with little capacity to cope with an increased workload.
“However, we have received approval to fill around 11 vacancies, and recruitment is underway. We believe that we will be able to work more efficiently from now on,” he said.
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A section of the audience.
Pix by Indika Handuwala |
Addressing the launch, partner KBSL Information Technologies Limited’s Chairman Vasee Nesiah said: “The RTI Act didn’t give us a new right. It simply gave us the keys to a home we already owned, to establish a structural legal process and to demand transparency from industries, public departments, local authorities, and state bank entities.”
He said the Government’s digitalisation project would allow for faster appeals and hearings and smoother access for people.
“Applying technology for the sake of modernisation is not a good enough reason to commit time, effort and money. Technology is most effective when you solve a problem or deliver a better outcome in a timelier, more reliable manner. We believe we are witnessing just that at today’s launch of RTI online,” Mr. Nesiah said.
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