When President Maithripala Sirisena (in picture) promised to introduce a Right to Information Act in his manifesto prior to the January 2015 elections, it sounded distant to most Sri Lankans. Like millions of citizens in the region, they had resigned to their government’s opaque administration and its aversion to accountability. When the Act became a reality in 2016, citizens suddenly found a new dynamic with the government. They could ask more questions and, significantly, be entitled to answers. “We are receiving at least 100 applications every day from all over the country,” said Ranga Kalansooriya, Director General of the Government Information Department. “This is an unexpected number within months of implementation,” he said, pointing to the need for more awareness at all levels.

An awareness program was held the Ministry of Defense to educate the staff on the Right To Information (RTI) act, today (20th April).

The Government has strongly denied reports in some Sinhala media that it plans to amend the Right to Information Act to ensure that Cabinet secrets are not subjected to RTI disclosure.

Responding to reports that an amendment bringing about this change will be hurriedly brought to Sri Lanka’s RTI Act ranked internationally as the third best law in the world, Director General of Information Ranga Kalansooriya responded on social media, denying the same. The DG Information stated that what was intended was merely to seek the advice of the Attorney General in regard to the application of the exemption relating to Cabinet papers and decisions. He stated further that ‘in any case there will be no move to curtail the law. The news is the usual exaggeration by media.

A total of 110 Acts had been found to be contradicting with the Right to Information Act when the RTI was implemented, Government Information Department's Director General Ranga Kalansooriya said today.

On April 14, 2017 the garbage dump in Meethotamulla collapsed, killing 32 people. These deaths could have been avoided. That they could not, points to a systematic failure of the State to address various issues raised by the dumping of garbage close to human settlements. Residents from Meethotamulla went to the Supreme Court in 2014 seeking the relocation of the dump. Their calls went unheeded.

It is encouraging to see that Sri Lanka’s Right to Information (RTI) Commission has released its 2017 budget estimate, including the salary scales of the Commission members and staff along with its recruitment procedures and cadre provision.

30 May 2017. Colombo, Media Statement: Marking little more than three months since Sri Lanka’s Right to Information Act, No 12 of 2016 was operationalised on 03rd February 2017, the RTI Commission notes its appreciation of the significant numbers of Public Authorities and citizens who have reached out to the Commission during the intervening period. This indicates the support and interest evidenced by the public who are, in growing numbers using their ‘Right to Information’ guaranteed to them under the Act. It is very encouraging to see that some Public Authorities are in fact, voluntarily complying with the pro-active disclosure requirements of the Act.

Sri Lanka’s new Right to Information Act is being hailed as one of the most extensive freedom of information acts in the world. It is the 108th country with a law allowing citizens to demand information from the government.

Right To Information (RTI) act is not only for journalists but for all people said Minister of Parliamentary reforms and Mass Media Gayantha Karunarthilake.

In an ironic twist, the very organization that promotes transparency has been hit with the Right To Information (RTI) Act, with trade unions using the RTI to obtain information on alleged corruption activities at the Transparency International Sri Lanka Chapter (TISL).