• Significant shortage of staff and other resources
• No scope for addl. progs. or institutional improvement including public service awareness sessions, progress reviews, etc.

The Right to Information (RTI) Commission stated that its day-to-day functions, including appeal hearings, are continuing, but that resource-related limitations have left no scope for additional programmes or institutional improvement.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the RTI Commission's Director General (DG), K.D.S. Ruwanchandra said that there is no disruption to its routine functioning and that appeal hearings and related processes are taking place as scheduled. However, he said that work beyond its core responsibilities has been affected due to the lack of resources.

“There is a significant shortage of staff and other resources at the Commission. As a result, programmes such as awareness sessions for public servants, progress reviews, and other additional activities are not being carried out at present. Day-to-day functions continue without disruption, but there’s limited scope to expand or improve our work,” he added.

Ruwanchandra's remarks follow a recent letter sent by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, drawing attention to the challenges faced by the RTI Commission. In the letter, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya pointed out the importance of the RTI Commission in protecting the public’s right to access information under the relevant Constitutional provisions. The BASL further stated that the Commission has continued its work for nearly a decade despite limited resources, but added that shortages in staff and funding have affected how effectively it can function. The Association therefore urged the President to ensure that the Commission receives adequate and independent financial allocations.

Established under the RTI Act, No. 12 of 2016, the RTI Commission functions as an independent oversight body empowered to conduct inquiries into non-compliance with the Act and to recommend disciplinary or legal action against the relevant officials where necessary.