The third program of the “RTI: Let us Protect Our Right through the Right to Information” training program series for journalists, media professionals and Civil Society Organizations workshop series was held on 7 December 2022 at the Chilaw Far Inn Village Hotel premises in the Puttalam District.RTI Commission Chairman, retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne, and RTI Commissioners Attorney-at-Law Kishali Pinto Jayawardena and Attorney-at-Law Jagath Liyana Arachchi participated as resource persons in this program.

The training program discussed how Right to Information can be used effectively to enable citizens to make maximum use of it. During the training Attorney-at-Law Jagath Liyana Arachchi presented the basic facts related to RTI. RTI Journalist Forum member Prasad Poornamal then shared his achievements using the Right to Information Act in Puttalam District and encouraged others to do the same. 

The two Commissioners including the Chairman of the RTI Commission then participated in the question and answer session ato address the inquiries of participants. During the Q&A session the journalists described the challenges faced by them in using the RTI law and solutions given included directions to file appeals in time and if the public authorities do not respond properly to the request within the stipulated time, to appeal to the Right to Information Commission directly.

This series of training programs are organized by the SLPI under the assistance of the Direct Aid Program (DAP) of the Australian High Commission.