RTI Commission rules licensed private bank a public authority - Breaking News | Daily Mirror

The Right to Information Commission in Sri Lanka has determined that private banks licensed by the Central Bank qualify as public authorities under the RTI Act. This ruling resolves a dispute where a bank customer challenged the institution’s refusal to disclose loan interest rate details, asserting that the bank’s private status exempted it from transparency obligations. By rejecting the bank’s argument that incorporation under the Company Act provided immunity, the Commission established that regulatory licensing triggers public authority status. This interpretation ensures that entities performing essential financial functions, even when privately owned, remain subject to mandatory information disclosure requirements mandated by law. This decision is highly relevant to open data because it expands the scope of entities required to make data accessible to citizens. It sets a critical precedent for financial transparency, demonstrating that regulatory oversight can enforce openness in the private sector, thereby enhancing public accountability and access to crucial economic information.

Source: dailymirror.lk
Published on 2026-10-27

RTI Commission rules licensed private bank a public authority - Breaking News | Daily Mirror

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