MR was firmly against RTI Act says Thilanga

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was firmly against the Right To Information RTI Act says Deputy Speaker and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) member Thilanga Sumathipala.

Sumathipala told local television that he had made an attempt to present the RTI Bill in Parliament when Rajapaksa was President.

However he says Rajapaksa had opposed the move and told him there was no need for such an Act and told him not to go ahead with it.

Sumathipala claimed that he had told the former President that the RTI would be helpful to the country but?Rajapaksa had stood his ground.

The SLFP MP also accused Rajapaksa of directly getting involved in local sports bodies and had even told him not to contest for President of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board at one time.

Thilanga Sumathipala says he is now interested in contesting for President of the Sri Lanka Cricket baord and he hopes to discuss the matter with the Sports Minister and President Maithripala Sirisena. (Colombo Gazette)