Retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne has officially resigned from his position as Chairman of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission, effective immediately. Abeyratne communicated his resignation in a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Mr.Abeyratne, who had been serving as the Chairman of the RTI Commission, is stepping down from his post as per Section 12(1) of the Right to Information Act (RTI Act), which mandates that the RTI Commission consists of four Commissioners and a Chairman. These positions are appointed by the President based on recommendations from the Constitutional Council.
The resignation of Abeyratne marks a significant change in the leadership of the RTI Commission, which plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the government. The President’s office has yet to comment on the process for selecting a new Chairman or whether there will be further adjustments to the Commission's structure.
The RTI Commission has been instrumental in promoting citizens' right to access public information, a key component of Sri Lanka's democratic framework. The future direction of the Commission will be closely watched as it continues to hold the government accountable for its actions under the RTI Act.
