RTI Bill in parliament on March 8

The Right to Information Bill will be presented to Parliament on March 8 for the first reading, the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media said in a statement today.

Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana has said the much-awaited Bill would officially be included in the agenda of Parliament next Tuesday after the first reading is moved.

He said all Provincial Councils have endorsed the draft Bill referred to them.

“There was a slight delay in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) in giving consent to the Bill, but that was also a technical delay. The NPC endorsed the Bill last week,” Paranavithana said.

The deputy minister observed that any concerned party or individual would have the opportunity to challenge the Bill before the Supreme Court within a given period after it is presented for the first reading.