Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told the media on the day Maithripala Sirisena completed 100 days in office that in addition to the right to information bill, the cabinet approved electoral reforms and national audits would be submitted to parliament as urgent bills.

One promise in the election manifesto is that these bills would be brought before the 100 days in office.

However, deputy minister Ajith P. Perera has told journalists that the practice of tabling urgent bills would be ended as per the 19th amendment to the constitution that restricts powers of the executive presidency.

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association warns on the count that the claim by the minister that once adopted, the right to information bill would guarantee all citizens’ right to information.

Media secretary Karunaratne Paranawithana had promised to furnish the draft to media organizations for their approval before finalization, said association president Lasantha Ruhunage.

However, what minister Senaratne says proves the draft has been finalised without the consent of media organizations.

The government says the proposed laws pertains to the right to information with regard to state institutions, and matters affecting national and state security, territorial integrity and international relations, the cabinet spokesman said.

It also allows government not to reveal information that could cause grievous harm to the economy and regarding individuals’ economic ties and trade secrets.

Ruhunage said he has asked the government at meetings of the committee that formulated the draft to define the word ‘national security’, noting that that particular term could be used to cover up irregularities in certain dealings.

He said it is the public money that goes to fund national and state security.

The right to information act should be applicable to state and semi government institutions as well as NGOs funded by public money.

He added that he was not aware as to whether the draft had been formulated as per a request by him to draft it in accordance with internationally-accepted yardsticks, jdslanka.org reports.