Court in landmark judgment rules CA Sri Lanka subject to RTI Act

Friday, 14 March 2025 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Court of Appeal has declared that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) falls within the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, No. 12 of 2016. The judgment, delivered on 6 March, marks a critical moment in the enforcement of citizens’ right to access information from professional bodies that perform public functions.

The case arose when a petitioner sought information from CA Sri Lanka under the RTI Act, which the institute refused, arguing that it did not qualify as a ‘public authority’ under the law. The matter was brought before the RTI Commission, which ruled in favour of disclosure. ICASL subsequently challenged this decision in the Court of Appeal.

In its ruling, the Court of Appeal upheld the RTI Commission’s determination, stating that ICASL, despite being a statutory body with self-regulatory functions, carries out duties that have a direct impact on the public interest. The court emphasised that the ICASL Act No. 23 of 1959 grants the institute statutory authority over the accounting profession, making it accountable under the RTI framework.

The judgment reiterates that any institution performing a public function, even if independently managed, must comply with Sri Lanka’s RTI law. Legal experts view this ruling as a landmark decision reinforcing the country’s commitment to transparency and good governance.

The ruling is expected to have wide-ranging consequences for professional bodies and regulatory institutions in Sri Lanka. It reaffirms that statutory bodies, even if not directly funded by the state, must comply with the principles of transparency and accountability.

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