General Secretary of the United National Party Young Professionals Organisation (Colombo Chapter), Attorney Delan De Silva, has strongly criticised the continued delay in appointing a Chairperson to Sri Lanka’s Right to Information (RTI) Commission, describing the situation as “a slow suffocation of democratic oversight.”
The position has remained vacant since the resignation of Justice Upali Abeyrathne in March 2025, leaving the Commission incomplete and, according to De Silva, “toothless.”
“This is not delay. It’s democratic sabotage. No Chair = No hearings = No accountability. RTI is law. RTI is power. RTI is the people’s right to know.” he said in a statement
He further warned that the failure to fill the post risks reducing Sri Lanka’s RTI framework to a “paper law without enforcement or consequence.”
De Silva noted that the RTI Commission had, in previous years, played a crucial role in exposing irregularities related to election financing, public procurement, school admissions, pharmaceutical pricing, and more. He added that a recent RTI request filed in June 2025—seeking information on the President’s private media team and its funding—underscores why maintaining a fully functional Commission is essential.
“Transparency is not a favour granted by the state. It’s a constitutional right of the people. A government that drags its feet on RTI is a government that fears accountability,” he stated.
De Silva has called on the Constitutional Council to act without further delay and urged civil society to stay vigilant.
“The people’s right to know cannot be held hostage to political convenience.” (Newswire)