President Maithripala Sirisena will present appointment letters to the remaining two members of the Right to Information Commission by the end of next week, the Sunday Observer learns. The two names were recommended to the President by the Constitutional Council a few weeks ago. After consideration from the Council, the two names with professional background have been selected to be forwarded to the President.
According to Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Deputy Minister Karunarathne Paranawithana, the Act will be in force by February next year. He said the current members of the Commission are operating the office headed by Chairman, Mahinda Gammanpila.
Five members were appointed to the Commission in October this year. The three members who assumed duties were Mahinda Gammanpila, a former Civil Servant and two attorneys at law, S G Punchihewa and Kishali Pinto Jayawardena.
Former Supreme Court Justice Saleem Marsoof and law academic prof. N. Selvakumaran stepped down as the RTI Act proscribes any person of public office or judicial office to be appointed as commissioners.
The two slots have been vacant since then and the Constitutional Council has now recommended two names to the President. The Right to Information Commission cannot function without the Commission being fully constituted.
The Deputy Minister said that it’s vital for the remaining slots to be appointed as soon as possible so that the RTI could function from February next year.