International Information Day on September 28. To mark the occasion, the Right to Information Journalists held a ceremony at Sawsiripaya, Colombo 07 on the theme that the right to information cannot be deprived. It was revealed that under the Information Act, the police would seek information from journalists who request information.
Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi of Ambalantota, a local journalist who used the Freedom of Information Act, has faced this incident.
He requested from the Vavuniya SP’s office the number of arrests made for violating election laws from July 17 to August 2, 2020, the number of arrests, what their parties are and the number of arrests made for violating quarantine laws from March 20 to September 15, 2020 Sent by letter registered mail on September 12th.
On September 23, OIC of the Vavuniya Police, OIC of the Vavuniya Police, Inspector Asanga Indunil, spoke to journalist Rahul Samantha and inquired about his whereabouts.
The Ravaya newspaper has also called the Vavuniya DIG’s office and asked why they are seeking information from those seeking information under the Information Act. It has been said that it should be inquired in a letter. The Ravaya newspaper then asked Panjaradhana Inspector Asanga Indunil whether he was aware that the application had been received in accordance with the Information Act. He has stated that he does not know.
from this we can conclude, Police officers are not aware about the RTI Act.