TISL welcomes landmark judgment on citizens’ Right to Information

TISL welcomes landmark judgment on citizens’ Right to Information | Daily FT

This ruling establishes a critical legal precedent where the Right to Information Act overrides the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law, affirming that citizens have the right to access asset declarations of Members of Parliament. By prioritizing transparency over statutory silence, the decision reinforces the principle that public officials must be held accountable through open access to information, thereby combating corruption and promoting good governance in Sri Lanka. The relevance to open data lies in the validation of public interest as the primary metric for disclosure. The court emphasized that the purpose of both the RTI Act and asset declaration laws is identical: to fight corruption and ensure public representatives are answerable to the people they serve. This alignment ensures that data regarding public assets is not treated as private or exempt, but rather as essential public information that enables citizens to monitor the integrity of their elected officials effectively. Ultimately, this case demonstrates the power of legal frameworks to mandate data openness. It confirms that withholding such information violates constitutional rights to participate fully in public life. For open data advocates, this serves as a vital example of how judicial interpretation can strengthen transparency mechanisms, ensuring that data about public figures remains accessible, verifiable, and subject to public scrutiny, which is fundamental to maintaining democratic accountability and trust.

Source: ft.lk
Published on 2023-03-04

Some police agencies post policies online. Richmond charged $7,800 for a copy. »

Open Data

Related news