Colombo, Oct 26 (Daily Mirror) - The Right to Information (RTI) Commission has ruled that a private bank operating under a licence issued by the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka falls within the definition of a “public authority” under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016.
The decision was delivered in an appeal filed by Udara Ranasinghe, a customer of SANASA Development Bank PLC (SDB Bank), seeking information on how the interest rate applicable to his loan had been reviewed.
Although SDB Bank responded to his information request by email on April 9, 2025, the customer, dissatisfied with the response, appealed to the RTI Commission.
During the appeal proceedings, the bank maintained that it had provided information through emails on four occasions. However, it also contended that it did not fall within the definition of a “public authority” under the RTI Act as it was incorporated under Company Act No.7 of 2007.
The RTI Commission’s decision was delivered by its Chairman, Dayaratne Lankapura, and Commissioners Attorney-at-Law Kishali Pinto Jayawardena and A. Mohomed Nahiya.
In its decision dated October 21, 2026, in Appeal No. RTC/Appeal/1005/2025, the Commission rejected the bank’s position on its status under the Act, holding that a private bank operating under a licence issued by the Monetary Board of the Central Bank falls within the statutory definition of a public authority.
Section 3(1) of the RTI Act provides, subject to the provisions of Section 5, that every citizen has the right of access to information in the possession, custody or control of a public authority.
Section 43 of the Act defines the term “public authority”, with paragraph (e) covering certain private entities or organisations subject to the conditions stipulated therein.
The Commission’s decision clarifies the application of this definition to a private bank operating under a licence issued by the Monetary Board, bringing such an institution within the scope of the RTI Act.
Attorney-at-Law Manoja Gunawardana, with Himashi Kumaratunga, appeared for the appellant. Attorney-at-Law K.D. Premaratne, with B.M.P. Nayanathara, appeared for SDB Bank.