Right To Information: Discourse and Compliance in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This briefing paper discusses the process through which the RTI Act was drafted and enacted, and recommends strategies to ensure better compliance. It is presented in three sections. The first section chronicles the drafting process pertaining to Sri Lanka’s RTI legislation, and examines the role that public consultation played in the successful passage of the RTI Act. The second section outlines the existing laws that are inconsistent with the RTI Act, and proposes recommendations for compliance. The third section discusses international best practices on proactive disclosure, and offers recommendations to public authorities on fulfilling their obligations on proactive disclosure under the Act.