The Celebration and Live Forum On the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information, organized by Media Journalists for the Right, was held on 28th Thursday with the participation of Members of Parliament, many Journalists and Human Rights and civil society activists
The Minister of Mass Media and Information, Dullas Alahapperuma, who participated in the discussion, thanked the Association of Journalists for organizing such a meeting, guaranteeing the Universal Declaration of Information, fulfilling a fundamental responsibility of a state.
Speaking further Minister of Mass Media and Information Dullas Alahapperuma said that “Knowing the correct information is the true understanding and that one should not be afraid to tell the truth and never be afraid to share information. He points out that darkness reigns where there is no information, but that the reign of darkness is temporary and that in such a case information is light, and that the philosopher Plato realized that fact two thousand five hundred years ago.”
He said that while a small child can be forgiven for being afraid of the dark, it is sad that an adult is afraid of the light.
Minister of Mass Media and Information Dullas Alahapperuma further stated that with the evolution of civilized human beings, the most important aspects of each period had to be decided and human rights increased in line with human progress but it has always been slow compared to human progress. As examples Two hundred and forty-five years ago, in independent America, it took nearly a century to liberate their fellow blacks, another 100 years to grant them civil rights, and another 50 years for a black man to become president.
The Minister of Mass Media and Information Dullas Alahapperuma also stated as follows
The most valuable human resource has changed over time. Gold, discovered by European explorers across the oceans, remained a valuable human resource until the 18th century.
Petroleum became a valuable resource after the Industrial Revolution. But with the twenty-first century, information became the most valuable resource of mankind. That is why even the richest person in the world is tempted to store information. They are motivated to search, store, and use information. Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon provide great examples. So information that has gained such value is driving people’s lives, politics, society and the economy today.
Granting the right to information has become a fundamental right in every country where democracy is practiced. Because of this importance that the Universal Declaration of Information that we celebrate today was created. Therefore, promoting and maintaining this security has become the responsibility and duty of every citizen of a democratic country.
In 2002, it became the International Day for the Right to Information. We all know that in October 2019, the United Nations made it a universal day.
The Right to Information Act of Sri Lanka was adopted in 2016 and came into force in 2017.
I would like to express my gratitude to the previous government for that, as a policy maker as well as a citizen. This is a very positive step forward in our country.
It is an essential factor for a country to function democratically. Therefore, journalists have a responsibility to implement the Universal Declaration of Information effectively without turning it into another nominal act.
When there is no space for real information, it is normal to have an environment where false information breeds.
It is no secret that the socialization of misinformation causes more devastation to civil society than the concealment of accurate information. In recent history, the impact of elections, the pinnacle of democracy, has been exemplified. The harm caused by the release of misinformation to society no longer needs to be explained.
A Member of Parliament convicted of bribery was expelled from that seat by the Monaragala High Court recently. It is a historic decision. Rohana Hettiarachchi of PAFFREL who lodged the complaint states that the Freedom of Information Act helped in that. It is a very important historical event.
“The Universal Declaration of Human rights, which led to such a milestone in Sri Lanka is not limited to a mere celebration, It is the responsibility of all of us to lead this for the future of the country by conserving, evolving, nurturing and promoting it,” he said.
Former Speaker: Karu Jayasuriya, Member of the Information Commission Attorney-at-Law SG Punchihewa, Former Deputy Minister of Mass Media and Information MP Karunaratne Paranavithana, Member of Parliament Shanakian Rasamanikkam, Executive Director of the Nelumyaya Foundation Radeeka Gunaratne, Executive Director of Tratanfrarens International, Attorney-at-Law Nadeeshani Perera also expressed their views in related to practice of the right to information in the country.
The forum was moderated by Attorney-at-Law Dulan Dasanayake.