Right To Information In Sri Lanka
The Right to Information Bill was passed by the Sri Lankan Parliament this year. Introduced in March, the law aimed to counter corruption and make government accountable to the general public. The provisions contained in the law give public the right to access information and in circumstances where the right is denied, a Commission is to be formed on the matter and leaders to be appointed for governance. People shall have access to public information from not only the government, public and local sectors but also government-funded organisations and higher educational institutions. However, there exist a few limitations to the right, including defence interests, confidential trade matters, medical records and any information that may fall under the contempt of court. The global community including the UN, however, still urge the Sri Lankan government to increase transparency and accountability to even greater levels.
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