Impressed by India's Right to Information Act, Sri Lanka hopes to have its own

NEW DELHI: In a major step towards political reforms, Sri Lanka has taken cue from India and hopes to introduce Right to Information Act ( RTI) through a Constitutional Amendment that is likely to come in place on April 22.

The government hopes to introduce what erstwhile Rajapaksa government failed to do during its decadelong rule to empower Lankan citizens through the 19th amendment of the Lankan Constitution aimed at political reforms. The Sirisena government had promised sweeping political reforms including reverting to Parliamentary form of government.

The 100-days program of Sirisena includes the passing of a RTI in Lanka. The issues of political reforms, democracy, strengthening and freedom of institutions were on the agenda of discussions between Modi and cross section of Lankan leadership when the PM was in Colombo last week, according to diplomatic sources. Colombo’s proposed Right to Information Act has been inspired by India, sources indicated. India had passed RTI Act in 2005.

“No restrictions shall be placed on the right declared and recognized by this Article (Article 14A), other than such restrictions prescribed by law as are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety. In this Article, “citizen” includes a body whether incorporated or unincorporated, if not less than threefourths of the members of such body are citizens,” according to the draft 19th Amendment.

Official sources from Colombo told ETthat the Rajapaksa regime had initiated to have RTI Act in 2010 but could never introduce the Law. The regime was known for controlling flow of information and its autocratic way of functioning. The high-handedness of the former President's family members was among key reasons behind the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa last January, sources recalled.