Will Right to Information Act prevent Sri Lanka’s economic data being revealed?
Posted on April 25th, 2015
Courtesy Adederana
Since there are risks of a situation being created where important economic data that the country has to be aware of being limited through the proposed Right to Information Act, sharp attention has to be drawn towards this issue, say analysts.
Cabinet approval has been granted to the draft Right to Information Act to be presented to Parliament as an urgent bill.
Analysts warn that it is important to examine whether the less transparent Treasury as well as the Central Bank of Sri Lanka which has so far efficiently released economic data, could limit the releasing of economic data by utilizing the provisions of this proposed bill.
This is due to this proposed bill containing certain provisions through which these institutions could limit the release of economic data.
This Bill includes certain provisions through which these institutions could refuse to reveal any data which if revealed would cause serious harm to Sri Lanka’s economy, cause harm to any commercial interests of an individual or to refuse divulging certain information which may expose trade secrets.
Since it is unclear what type of economic data that the phrase ‘severe harm to Sri Lanka’s economy’ really means, this has to be deeply discussed to determine whether it could limit even the economic data thus far released by the Treasury and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, point out analysts while stating that some could argue that certain data released even now may cause severe harm to the country’s economy.
Though data on the depleting foreign reserves, the widening trade deficit, moves like printing currency etc. have been so far released, in future one could later argue that these could cause severe harm to the country’s economy.
April 26th, 2015 at 6:49 am
A ploy to cover scams at Central Bank level ?
The scam that has already happened through Governor Mahendran & son in law Arjun may lead to really bad results which may get covered up through the Right to Information Act ?
Sounds like another ‘wool over eyes’ Bill same as the 19-A !!
Fascism setting in on a grand scale ?
April 26th, 2015 at 11:58 am
Of course it is to cover up the CB scam.
April 26th, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Right to Information Bill should be re-named Right to not give Information or Right to Misinformation, as probably will be practiced by the present illegal govt.