Karu J fails to bring RTI Bill

Irangika Range, Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya's move to present a Private Member's Bill to provide freedom of access to official information was thwarted in Parliament yesterday after the Government side forced him to withdraw it.

Chief Government Whip, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena asked Jayasuriya to withdraw the Bill on the grounds that the Government is in the process of drafting a similar Bill and hence they would not support this. "We have a draft Bill and the Opposition can discuss it with us," Minister Gunawardena said.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe earlier asked the Government to allow Jayasuriya's Bill to be presented and then discuss it with the Opposition and media organizations.

However, the Government said they could not accept this Bill and therefore asked Jaysuriya to withdraw it.