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Gampaha District tops interest in Right to Information Act
Gampaha District recorded the highest level of interest from people seeking more about RTI, according to the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI). The District was followed by Colombo, Anuradhapura and Kurunegala.
This was revealed during a presentation held at the SLPI on Thursday (28) to mark ‘International Right to Know Day.’ The SLPI had been conducting training programmes throughout the country from last December, regarding the RTI Act, which came into effect on February 3. Accordingly, those from the Gampaha District had shown the highest interest regarding what RTI is and how to use it, followed by Colombo and other Districts. SLPI CEO Kumar Lopez said it was important to carry on a good campaign to remind people that RTI Law is there for them to use.
The SLPI had also established an RTI helpline from February 3. There had been 295 calls to the helpline up to this week. A majority of the calls were regarding what RTI is, how to use the RTI to obtain information related to infrastructure needs, education based information and employment information.
A session on the importance of the media in utilising the RTI Act, was delivered by guest speaker Namini Wijedasa, Assistant Editor, the Sunday Times. She shared her experience in gathering information using the RTI Act and disseminating the information for the public’s benefit.
The event also saw the SLPI launch an RTI gingle on its RTI Sri Lanka Facebook page. The song was composed by veteran ‘Gypsies’ singer Sunil Perera.
The RTI Act was first mooted in Sri Lanka at the 1998 Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility.
Members of the public who need any clarification or assistance regarding how to use the RTI Act are encouraged to call the SLPI’s RTI Helpline on 0703 300 700 or, visit www.slpi.lk
A section of the participants and below Guest speaker Namini Wijedasa, Assistant Editor of the Sunday Times addressing the event