News
Constitutional Council declines RTI request on AG nomination
The Constitutional Council (CC) has refused to disclose certain information sought under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016, regarding its decision on the President’s nominee for the post of Auditor General.
The information request was submitted on 1 January 2026 by Attorney-at-Law Aazath Atham Lebbe, following a newspaper report. The request sought details on the total number of members of the Constitutional Council, as well as the names of members who voted in favour of, against, or abstained from voting on the nomination of Army Officer Mr. O. R. Rajasinghe.
In its response dated 13 January 2026, the Information Officer of the Constitutional Council has stated that information relating to the total number of members and their designations is already available on the official website of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
However, the Council has declined to disclose the names of members who voted in favour of or against the nominee, citing Section 5(1)(g) of the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016 as the basis for refusal.
Section 5(1)(g) of the Act states that a request for access to information “shall be refused, where … the information is required to be kept confidential by reason of the existence of a fiduciary relationship.”
This decision has raised serious concerns over transparency in the Constitutional Council’s decision-making process, particularly for high-level constitutional appointments that are of significant public interest. The names of members who voted are public documents, and the general public is entitled to know this information because such appointments directly affect governance, accountability, and the exercise of public power, Atham Lebbe has argued.
“The Constitutional Council is established to act in the public interest and is accountable to the people; it is not empowered to withhold information on the basis that a fiduciary relationship exists where none can logically apply to the disclosure of votes on public office appointments. Moreover, even if an exemption were to be invoked, Section 5(4) of the Act makes clear that a request shall not be refused where the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the harm that would result from its disclosure, and public confidence and trust in democratic institutions is a quintessential public interest.”
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
News
Cabinet nod to legally empower methodology for implementing the ‘Praja Shakthi’ poverty alleviation national movement
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to legally empower the implementation of ‘Praja Shakthi’ (Strength of the Community) poverty alleviation national movement
Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe seek momentum sustenance ahead of stiffer challenges
West Indies aim to keep up rhythm as Italy look to end on a high
Pakistan into Super Eight after Farhan ton sinks Namibia
Muscular South Africa stroll into Super Eight with all-win record
Pakistan bat first, drop Shaheen Afridi in must-win encounter against Namibia
New Bangladesh sports minister wants to fast track cases against Shakib and Mortaza
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Life style4 days agoMarriot new GM Suranga
-
Business3 days agoMinistry of Brands to launch Sri Lanka’s first off-price retail destination
-
Features4 days agoMonks’ march, in America and Sri Lanka
-
Opinion7 days agoWill computers ever be intelligent?
-
Features4 days agoThe Rise of Takaichi
-
Features4 days agoWetlands of Sri Lanka:
-
News4 days agoThailand to recruit 10,000 Lankans under new labour pact
-
News4 days agoMassive Sangha confab to address alleged injustices against monks