Sri Lanka’s Parliamentary Research Unit (PRU) is to monitor news published in local print and electronic media for the first time.and submit reports with corrections if there are any distortions in those new items
This will be done is in consultations with relevant ministers and parliamentarians both in the government and the opposition with a view of disseminating correct and credible information among the people of this country.
Occasionally, Local print media carry reports with incorrect or misinterpreted statistical data or information, parliamentary sources said.
Unless corrected, such misinformation will be accepted as truth by the public. The PRU could play a watchdog role by identifying such reports and providing an impartial professional report.
To streamline this function, PRU has been briefed on collecting, indexing and filing such reports and communicating the corrections to members of parliament.
Establishing a process to respond to queries by members of parliament PRU officers are often required to respond to requests for data and information on various development issues.
It was noted that the process of responding to such requests need to be made more efficient. In order to systematize the process, a template was drafted, which can be used for analyzing the types of information requirements.
Establishing the use of such a template and a procedure helps to deliver a more efficient service in providing information to members of parliament for debates, background papers, and other purposes.
The PRU staff need to access data to meet the evidence needs of members of parliament. To make easy access to information sources, a Data Catalogue, which is an EXCEL based database, has been prepared by the PRU.
(LI)