Justice A.W.A. Salaam and Dr Selvy Thiruchandran have been appointed as members to the Right to Information Commission, the President’s Media Division said.

They received their respective letters of appointment from President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

Meanwhile Supreme Court Judge Priyasad Dep has been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. 

The RTI Act, which will go into effect in February, will allow journalists in the country to rely on verified, authenticated information from the government rather than on hearsay.

On Friday, June 24, the Right to Information (RTI) bill was passed by the Sri Lanka Parliament, after the second reading of the bill which started on June 23. 

The bill was first introduced to the Parliament by the Minister of Parliamentary Reform and Mass Media, Gayantha Karunathilaka, in March 24, 2016. 

The implementation of the Act will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Mass Media, which includes establishing a Right to Information Commission to directly oversee the functions of the bill. 

The bill includes provisions on the public’s right to know, assures access to information from government, public and local entities as well as information held by organizations who receive significant funding from the government.