Former Speaker and Chairman of the National Movement for a Just Society Karu Jayasuriya has said that the appointment of the new Chairman and others to the Information Commission should not be made at the sole discretion of the ruling party.
He pointed out that the term of the commission was coming to an end and that an independent and impartial person should be appointed as its chairman, adding that political activists should not be appointed to this.
He emphasized that the assistance of the Media Minister was needed at this time.
Mr. Jayasuriya recalled that the Information Commission has taken bold / historic decisions for the last 05 years and the Information Act was passed during the period of ‘ Yahapalana’ government due to the interest of many political and civil society activists.
He says that due to the strengthening of this Act, journalists / media institutions were more active in those days and even state institutions were paying attention to it.
Mr. Jayasuriya further stated that the uniqueness of this bill was that it could be used not only by the government officers but also by general public.
Shani
gotabaya rajapaksa, karu jayasuriya