The Right to Information (RTI) Commission has ruled that a private bank operating under a licence from the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is a “public authority” under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016.

The decision, dated 21 October 2026, was given in Appeal No. RTC/Appeal/1005/2025. It was delivered by Commission Chairman Dayaratne Lankapura and Commissioners Kishali Pinto Jayawardena and A. Mohomed Nahiya.

The appeal was filed by Udara Ranasinghe, a customer of SANASA Development Bank PLC (SDB Bank). He had asked how the interest rate on his loan was reviewed.

SDB Bank replied to his information request by email on 9 April 2025. Dissatisfied with the response, the customer appealed to the Commission.

During the appeal, the bank said it had given information by email on four occasions. It also argued that it was not a public authority under the Act because it was incorporated under the Companies Act, No. 7 of 2007.

The Commission rejected that position. It held that a private bank operating under a Monetary Board licence falls within the statutory definition of a public authority.

Background

Section 3(1) of the RTI Act says that every citizen has the right of access to information in the possession, custody or control of a public authority, subject to Section 5, which sets out exemptions.

Section 43 of the Act defines “public authority”. Paragraph (e) covers certain private entities or organisations that meet the conditions stated in it. The Commission’s decision applies that paragraph to a private bank that holds a Monetary Board licence.

Attorney-at-Law Manoja Gunawardana, with Himashi Kumaratunga, appeared for the appellant. Attorney-at-Law K.D. Premaratne, with B.M.P. Nayanathara, appeared for SDB Bank.

What it means

The ruling brings a licensed private bank within the scope of the RTI Act, so a citizen can request information from it in the same way as from a government body, subject to the exemptions in Section 5.

The decision was given in an appeal about a loan interest rate. Customers who are refused information by a public authority can appeal to the RTI Commission, as the appellant in this case did.