Sri Lankan Parliament passes Right to Information bill

Sri Lankan Parliament on Friday unanimously passed the Right to Information bill aimed at restoring transparency and good governance in the country. 

The RTI bill was adopted without a vote in the Parliament after two days of debate. The new law gives citizens access to public information



except personal data, national security information, financial and commercial policy decisions, intellectual property and medical reports.

During last year's presidential campaign President Maithripala Sirisena promised the new law, since Sri Lanka had a long history of official secrecy.