2. Insertion of new Article 14A in the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the

“Constitution”) is hereby amended by the insertion immediately after Article 14 thereof of the following new

Article :-

14A.

Lanka

(1)

Every citizen shall have the right of access to any information as provided for by law, being information that is required for the execise or protection of a citizen’s right held by:-

(a)

the State, a Ministry or any Government

Department or any statutory body

“Right of access to information.

established or created by or under any law;

(b)

any Ministry of a Minster of the

Board of Ministers of a Province or any Department or any statutory body established or created by a statute of a

Provincial Council;

(c)

any local authority; and

(d)

any other person, who is in possession of such information relating to any institution referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) (b) or (c) of this paragraph.”

(2)

No restrictions shall be placed on the right declared and recognized by this Article, other than such restrictions prescribed by law as are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals and of the reputation or the rights of others, privacy, prevention of contempt of court, protection of parliamentary privilege, for preventing the disclosure of information communicated in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

(3)

In this Article, “citizen” includes a body whether incorporated or unincorporated, if not less than three-fourths of the members of such body are citizens.”.

Read on from s 3