The Right to Information Commission has filed a case before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court against two information officers attached to the Health Ministry for their failure to disclose the ingredients of imported milk powder.
On February 27, 2019, Dr. Nilan Fernando, representing the People’s Movement for Free Health Service, filed an application requesting a report pertaining to the ingredients of imported milk powder. Subsequently, on September 24, 2021, the Right to Information Commission took a decision directing the Health Ministry to release this information to the applicant who sought access to information from a public authority in terms of Section 3 of the Right to Information Act.
When the matter was called before the Colombo Chief Magistrate, Counsel Himalee Kularathna, appearing for the Right to Information Commission, made an application to issue summonses on two accused for violating sections 32(1), 32(3), and 39(1) of the Right to Information Act read with section 32 of the Penal Code. Being satisfied with the submissions made by the counsel for the Right to Information Commission, Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis issued a summons ordering two information officers, V.T.S. Siriwardena and J.C. Gamlath, to appear in court on March 21.
According to Section 39 of the Right to Information Act, upon conviction, the guilty party will be liable for a fine not exceeding Rs. 50,000, an imprisonment of up to two years, or both such a fine and imprisonment.