The Parliamentary Affairs and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilake at the weekly cabinet news briefing yesterday announced that the Right to Information Bill will be presented in Parliament on the 21st June for approval.

The Government earlier presented the draft bill to Parliament on March 24 for the first reading. However, the Supreme Court in May has declared that certain clauses of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill violate the constitution and it will need a two-thirds majority in Parliament to become law.

The Court further determined that the inconsistencies will cease to operate, and the Bill may be passed by a simple majority, if amendments are made as directed by the Supreme Court to the Clauses that are in violation of the Constitution.

The Government subsequently formed a committee to study the clauses that are in violation and introduce amendments to the draft bill.

Accordingly, the amended draft bill will be presented to Parliament on June 21.

The Bill provides for the establishment of a Right to Information Commission and the appointment of information officers among other things to uphold the people's right to know.