RTI Act amendment plan triggers SLWJA warning as journalists fear public access to information and Information Commission powers may be weakened.
RTI Act amendment plans have triggered strong opposition from the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, which warns that the public’s right to information is in danger.
The SLWJA has strongly emphasized to the government that a major protest campaign will be launched with civil society and all media organizations if the government attempts to restrict public access to information.
The Association says the government is trying to weaken the Information Commission under the guise of amending the Right to Information Act.
This warning was issued through a special statement released after an official discussion between SLWJA representatives and Deputy Minister of Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne on May 13, 2026.
During that discussion, the Deputy Minister had officially revealed that the government was preparing to amend the Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016.
The Association alleges that this move appears to be a gradual attempt to cripple the Information Commission and push it into a serious institutional collapse.
Information Commission Faces Serious Breakdown
The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association says the Information Commission is already facing a major crisis.
According to the media release, the Commission lacks sufficient experts to prepare legal documents and also suffers from limited staff.
The Association also noted that the full five-member composition of the Commission is often unavailable, resulting in decisions being postponed indefinitely.
It further warned that the fear and respect once shown by government institutions towards the Information Commission is gradually weakening.
The Association said this could create a future risk where government institutions completely stop cooperating with the Commission.
It also stated that information requested from the Presidential Secretariat is being withheld, forcing legal action to obtain it.
Is There A Hidden Political Motive?
The SLWJA questioned whether the current government sees it as a problem that ordinary citizens and journalists are seeking information from public institutions.
The Association said serious suspicion has now arisen over whether this historic law, introduced to protect the public’s right to information, is being amended to prevent citizens from accessing information.
It strongly urged the government not to violate this fundamental right, which is protected by the Constitution.
The Association said protecting the people’s right to information is a primary responsibility of any democratic government.
The SLWJA further emphasized that instead of bringing amendments based on narrow political needs, the government must immediately provide the necessary members and resources to strengthen the Information Commission.
It warned that if the government proceeds with amendments that weaken this statutory institution, strong action will be taken against such moves.
