News
TISL reminds President of impending vacancies in Right to Information Commission
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has called for the appointment of the new commissioners for the Right to Information (RTI) Commission in line with the procedures set out in the Right to Information Act No 12 of 2016.
A statement issued by the TISL said: The tenure of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission which is the central oversight and appellate body established under the Right to Information Act of Sri Lanka is set to expire in September this year. Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) calls for the appointment of the new commissioners in line with the procedures set out in the Right to Information Act No 12 of 2016.
The RTI Commission is established under section 11 of the RTI Act which defines the constitution of the Commission, which consists of a chairperson and four members who serve a term of five years. Prior to the passing of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the appointments were made by the President upon the recommendations provided by the Constitutional Council.
However, the 20th Amendment changed the manner in which the RTI Commission is appointed. The Constitutional Council which is mentioned in the Act is no longer functional and has been replaced with the Parliamentary Council. Therefore, it is now up to the Parliamentary Council to obtain nominations from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, organisations of publishers, editors and media persons and other civil society organisations to fill positions in the RTI Commission. The Parliamentary Council is expected to make observations to the President on who should be appointed to the RTI Commission, while the President’s duty to seek such observations is mandatory.
TISL hopes that the President would take these observations into serious consideration when making appointments for the RTI Commission, in keeping with the democratic process stipulated in the RTI Act of Sri Lanka.
Commenting on this, TISL Executive Director Nadishani Perera stated that “Over the Past 5 years the RTI Commission of Sri Lanka was able to deliver commendable decisions that protected the people’s right to information. They were able to do this because the RTI Commission acted in its capacity as an independent body. TISL hopes that the President will make the new appointments to the Commission in line with the provisions of the RTI Act, ensuring the independent nature of the Commission,”
Earlier TISL took steps to invite Civil Society Organisations in the country to join hands in fulfilling their role laid out in the RTI Act. The nominations by a number of Civil Society organisations including TISL for a position in the RTI Commission were compiled and handed over to the Parliamentary Council yesterday.
The RTI Commission can be considered to be a bridge that connects the state with the general populace. During its tenure the current RTI Commission provided progressive rulings from matters ranging from simple RTI requests on local development activities to more controversial issues such as an order to release the asset declarations of the former Prime Minister. These rulings are a testament to the independence of the commission and further proof of why the proper procedure laid out in the RTI Act should be followed when making appointments to the Commission.
TISL Executive Director Nadishani Perera also noted that “the background of the RTI Commissioners and the role that they play have a direct impact on the general public. If the appointed Commissioners are impartial, with no direct ties to politics, they would be able to dole out impartial rulings on behalf of the people. Therefore, it is also the responsibility of the general public to pay close attention to the nature of individuals appointed to the RTI Commission.”
The following names were submitted to the Parliamentary Council by TISL and other civil society organisations for consideration when selecting candidates for the RTI Commission: Dr. A.K.C.H. Priyangani Jayasundara, (Nominated by Safe Foundation), J. H. Nilmini Sunethra Kumari (Nominated by Child Vision Sri Lanka), P. Sai Balasubramaniam (Nominated by Peoples’ Development Foundation), Rev. Dr. Noel Dias (Nominated by Centre for Social Justice and Equity), D.M. Samantha Dassanayake ( Nominated by Centre for Human Rights and Community Development), Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa (Nominated by Caritas SED), Sampath Pushpakumara (Nominated by Families of the Disappeared), Nadarajah Sivaranjith (Nominated by NGO Consortium, Ampara), and Ainkaran Kugadasan (Nominated by Transparency International Sri Lanka).
The Navy taking prompt action were able to douse a fire that broke out on a fishing trawler at the Galle Fisheries Harbour on 14 Apr 25.
The blaze was first spotted by personnel on board SLNS Prathapa, stationed nearby. Acting swiftly, a diving team from the Southern Naval Command, along with harbour security personnel, rushed to the scene.
Their initial efforts focused on separating the trawler that had caught fire to prevent the flames from spreading. With the situation under partial control, the fire extinguishing system of SLNS Prathapa was activated, successfully dousing the remaining flames, through coordinated efforts of the diving and harbour security personnel.
Latest News
Heat index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 16 April 2025, valid for 17 April 2025
The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the table below and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
The government, in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Bar Association (BASL), has put in place a system to check lawyers entering selected courts. This follows the killing of Ganemulle Sanjeewa by an underworld hitman, masquerading as a lawyer, in one of the Magistrate Courts at Hulftsdorp, on the morning of 19 February.
Responding to The Island queries in this regard, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday (16) confirmed the new security arrangement. Minister Nanayakkara, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, declined to elaborate.
Although the police apprehended the suspected assassin, a couple of hours later, the woman, who smuggled in the firearm used in the killing, also masquerading as a lawyer, is still at large.
Newly elected BASL President, Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya, said that scanners had been installed at selected places in line with the security arrangements introduced, following the 19 February shooting in a court. Amarasuriya said so responding to The Island query regarding the post-Hulftsdorp Court complex shooting developments.
The BASL Chief emphasised the pivotal importance of ensuring, what he called, a hassle-free environment for law officers, regardless of security checks necessitated by the latest shooting. Amarasuriya said that security measures should be in place in accordance with threat assessments pertaining to cases taken up at various courts.
The first courtroom killing took place in Nov. 1991 when Sub Inspector Dhammika Amarasena, who had been interdicted over the Wavulkelle massacre, was shot dead while inside the Attanagalle Magistrate court. Amarasena’s father-in-law, who had been seated next to the interdicted policeman, was also killed.
The second courtroom shooting happened in January 2004 when an Army deserter shot dead Dhamamika Amarasinghe inside the Hulftsdorp court complex. Although Dhammika Amarasinghe’s killer gained entry to the court, posing off as a law student, authorities never implemented a comprehensive security plan. However, in the wake of Ganemulle Sanjeewa’s killing, acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, who is also a lawyer, underscored the need to check law officers.
The BASL President said that they were still in the developing stage of the security set up, taking into consideration views expressed by various stakeholders. Referring to Ganemulle Sanjeewa’s assassin carrying a forged BASL identity card, Amarasuriya stressed the need to use technology in counter measures to thwart such practices.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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