Colombo: Sri Lankan lawmakers have unanimously approved a law giving citizens the right to demand public information, a move many hope will restore transparency and good governance to a nation long plagued by corruption and misrule.
The country's 225-member Parliament approved the Right to Information Act without calling for a vote Friday after two days of debate.
The law gives citizens access to public information except personal data, information relating to national security, financial and commercial policy decisions, intellectual property and medical reports. Information also could be withheld if its release is deemed to violate parliamentary privileges.
Sri Lanka has a long history of official secrecy and the new law was promised by President Maithripala Sirisena in the run up to last year's presidential election.
