The position of Chairman of the Sri Lanka Right to Information (RTI) Commission has remained vacant for over three months, with no appointment made by the President to date.
Justice Upali Abeyratne, a former judge of the Supreme Court and the previous Chairman of the Commission, tendered his resignation on March 6.
Subsequently, former Court of Appeal Justice Rohini Walgama, who served as a member of the Commission, also resigned. In May, former Court of Appeal Justice D.N. Samarakoon—nominated by media organizations—was appointed to the Commission by the President following the Constitutional Council’s approval. However, despite his appointment to the Commission, he was not designated as its Chairman.
The Constitutional Council had earlier called for nominations to fill the vacancy left by Justice Abeyratne, with the application period closing on April 1.
When attempts were made to contact the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Speaker Dr. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, for clarification on whether a nomination had been forwarded to the President, he refrained from providing a response. Instead, he instructed his Media Secretary to ask him only “necessary” questions.
