The Right to Information (RTI) Act came into force in Sri Lanka.
This is a piece of legislation aimed at restoring transparency and good governance in a country that has been plagued by corruption and misrule.
The government has gazetted the categories of public authorities that fall within the purview of the RTI.
The authorities are bound to respond to these requests as per the specified guidelines, within a maximum period of 28 days.
“From today the public can apply for information which they want,” Sankhitha Gunaratne, RTI Manager of Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) was quoted as saying.
TISL said it will be filing several public interest RTI requests with the relevant public authorities, seeking information like that pertaining to the assets and liabilities declarations of the President and the Prime Minister.
It will also put in a request for financial reports of political parties.
