RTI Commission child protection ruling orders the Attorney General’s Department to disclose CH Unit procedures and internal circulars by September 11.
The RTI Commission child protection ruling has ordered the Attorney General’s Department to disclose information and internal circulars concerning its Special Child Protection Unit, known as the CH Unit.
The Right to Information Commission issued the order following an appeal over access to information on the unit’s procedures.
Authorities established the special unit in 2004 to handle child abuse cases, based on the global principle of “the best interests of the child.”
Although authorities had set out procedures and timeframes for the unit, complaints continued over severe delays after child abuse cases reached the Attorney General’s Department.
Dr. Thushara Wickramanayake, Chairperson of the ‘Stop Child Abuse’ foundation, sought information from the Attorney General’s Department in an effort to address those concerns.
Her request focused on the procedures followed by the relevant unit.
However, the Department initially rejected the information request.
Dr. Wickramanayake then appealed to the Right to Information Commission under appeal No. 989/2025.
After hearing the appeal, the Commission issued its order requiring the Department to disclose the requested material.
Under the RTI Commission child protection decision, the Attorney General’s Department must provide all requested information before September 11, 2026.
The disclosure includes the internal circular containing the Standard Operating Procedure, or SOP, governing the relevant unit.
The decision represents a significant development in the effort to obtain information about procedures used in handling child abuse cases referred to the Attorney General’s Department.
The full order issued by the Information Commission to the Attorney General’s Department, identified as the Public Authority in the case, sets out the disclosure requirement.
