Right to Information Act 2016 · As enacted · Part VI · Appeals Against Rejections
31. Appeals against a rejection of a request
Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.
Official translationFrom Department of Government Printing, unchanged
Any citizen who is aggrieved as a result of–
refusing a request made for information;
refusing access to the information on the ground that such information is exempted from being granted under section 5;
non-compliance with time frames specified by this Act;
granting of incomplete, misleading or false information;
charging an excessive fees;
the refusal of the information officer to provide information in the form requested; or
the citizen requesting having reasonable grounds to believe that information has been deformed, destroyed or misplaced to prevent such citizen from having access to the information, may, prefer an appeal to the designated officer within fourteen days of the refusal, act or date of becoming aware of the grounds on which the appeal is sought to be made, as the case may be:
Provided however, that the designated officer may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of fourteen days if he or she is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by a reason beyond his or her control from filing the appeal in time.
The designated officer shall issue a receipt on the acceptance of the appeal, to the citizen making the appeal, and in any case within three working days.
The decision on any appeal preferred under subsection (1), shall be made by the designated officer within three weeks of the receipt of the appeal and shall include the reasons for the said decision including specific grounds for the same.
The right of a citizen to prefer an appeal under subsection (1) shall be without prejudice to his or her right to make an application to the Commission.
The designated officer may where reasonable cause is given for failure to submit an appeal within a period specified by subsection (1) by the citizen making such an appeal may at his discretion hear the appeal notwithstanding such delay.
Part VII