Present RTI Commissioners
The Right to Information Commission oversees the effective implementation of the Act. It is an independent and transparent body, which is required to ensure that Public Authorities duly discharge their duties under this Act. The Commission has the power, among other things, to direct Public Authorities to conform to the requirements of the Act, to inquire into violations of the Act, to sue and be sued under its name, and to hear appeals directed to the Commission.
The Commission consists of five (05) members appointed by the President. The members were recommended for appointment by the Constitutional Council. The Constitutional Council is mandated to recommend three of these members based on nominations made by the (a) Bar Association of Sri Lanka; (b) organizations of publishers, editors and media persons; and (c) other civil society organizations. Initially The Constitutional Council recommended Mr. Mahinda Gammanpila, Ms. Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena, Mr. S. G Punchihewa Prof. N. Selvakkumaran and Justice Saleem Marsoof to be appointed as members of the Commission. Mr. Mahinda Gammanpila, Ms. Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena, and Mr. S. G Punchihewa received their appointments from President Maithripala Sirisena on 30 September 2016, while the other two nominees declined their appointments.
Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice A. W. A. Salam and Dr. Selvi Thiruchandran were subsequently appointed as members of the RTI Commission thus completing the membership of the Commission.
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