Right to information act: a critical study

Abstract

The Right to Information is the right to access and obtain information from public officials. This right serves a number of important purposes: Improving public participation in policy making, Promoting transparency and accountability in Government, Minimising corruption and wastage of state resources by public officials. In Sri Lanka, The Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016 (RTI Act) certified by Parliament on August 4, 2016 and published as a Supplement to Part II of the Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka of August 5. 2016, can be considered as one of the more meaningful and positive democratic measures passed during the time. The RTI Act provides an operational regime to enforce the right to information (RTI), which was ensured as a fundamental right in the Constitution of Sri Lanka through the Nineteenth Amendment passed earlier in April 28, 2015. However, it has been facing challenges related to enforcement in the society. Therefore, the main objective of the study is to identify challenges of the practical procedure stipulated in the RTI Act for public authorities and to make recommendations to strengthen the people's right to information. Secondary data were collected from journals, reports, electronic resources, Gazettes of Sri Lanka which is related to RTI and books. Particularly, publications of Right to information commission of Sri Lanka was used as a technique of data collection. Finally, the paper concludes with suggestions to RTIA towards minimizing Challenges affecting both the institutions and general public in complying with RTIA pursuing the maximum benefits of the Right to Information.