Deputy Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said that there was no truth in the claim that journalists could be penalized for revealing information under the Right to Information Bill.

Speaking at an event in Galle District, Nanayakkara said that the government has expanded the people's right to know information.

With the approval of the RTI Bill, not only journalists but any citizen is able to obtain information regarding the government's work, Nanayakkara added.

A government cannot disclose details of sensitive matters such as defence and vital economic information and therefore these will not be revealed to the public, Nanayakkara said. However, the public right to seek other information such as the local development work have been guaranteed, he added.

Journalists are already disclosing different 'scoops' using their contacts, and the government is not going to penalize them for this, Nanayakkara also said.