Since there are risks of a situation being created where important economic data that the country has to be aware of being limited through the proposed Right to Information Act, sharp attention has to be drawn towards this issue, say analysts.

Cabinet approval has been granted to the draft Right to Information Act to be presented to Parliament as an urgent bill.

Analysts warn that it is important to examine whether the less transparent Treasury as well as the Central Bank of Sri Lanka which has so far efficiently released economic data, could limit the releasing of economic data by utilizing the provisions of this proposed bill.

This is due to this proposed bill containing certain provisions through which these institutions could limit the release of economic data.

This Bill includes certain provisions through which these institutions could refuse to reveal any data which if revealed would cause serious harm to Sri Lanka’s economy, cause harm to any commercial interests of an individual or to refuse divulging certain information which may expose trade secrets.

Since it is unclear what type of economic data that the phrase ‘severe harm to Sri Lanka’s economy’ really means, this has to be deeply discussed to determine whether it could limit even the economic data thus far released by the Treasury and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, point out analysts while stating that some could argue that certain data released even now may cause severe harm to the country’s economy.

Though data on the depleting foreign reserves, the widening trade deficit, moves like printing currency etc. have been so far released, in future one could later argue that these could cause severe harm to the country’s economy.