⚖️ Court of Appeal Affirms Statutory Bodies Subject to RTI Act

In a landmark judgment promoting governance transparency, the Court of Appeal has dismissed a writ application by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), affirming that statutory bodies fall strictly within the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. • The Ruling: The court upheld the RTI Commission's August 2024 determination that the CIPM is a "public authority" under Section 43(b) of the RTI Act. The case originated after the institute refused to disclose information regarding the membership termination of a former Chartered Fellow Member. • Key Arguments Rejected: The Court of Appeal soundly rejected the CIPM's attempt to exclude itself based on minor linguistic differences between the Sinhala and English texts of the Act. The petitioner argued the law only applied to "Boards" or "Offices", but the bench ruled that Section 43(b) plain text clearly covers _"any body or office"_ established under written law. • Impact on Corporate & Professional Governance: The bench observed that incorporation by an Act of Parliament gives an institution state imprimatur. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect such bodies—especially those managing key national professional standards—to remain transparent and accountable. • Legal Technicalities: While dismissing the case on its merits, the Court also upheld a preliminary objection noting that the CIPM failed to cite the original information requester as a necessary party in the legal proceedings. This decision reinforces previous judicial precedents emphasizing that the RTI framework must be interpreted broadly to advance good governance and accountability across Sri Lankan institutions.