The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Right to Information Commission, retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne, has resigned from his post with immediate effect, The Sunday Times reports.
Justice Abeyratne submitted his resignation letter to the President on Wednesday, March 4. However, the reason for his resignation remains unclear.
According to Section 12(1) of the Right to Information Act, the Commission comprises four Commissioners and a Chairperson appointed by the President based on recommendations from the Constitutional Council. The Council is responsible for nominating one Commissioner from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and two others from organizations representing publishers, editors, media professionals, and civil society. The remaining two appointments are made by the President upon the general recommendation of the Council.
For meetings of the Right to Information Commission to be valid, a quorum of three members, including the Chairman, is required. The Commissioners serve a fixed five-year term and may resign or be removed by the President on the recommendation of the Council, provided specific reasons are given.
It has been revealed that Justice Abeyratne is a respondent in several fundamental rights petitions, and multiple cases have been filed against him. He previously served as the Chairman of the Presidential Commission on Political Vindication. Additionally, Upul Kumarapperuma, the lawyer representing the aggrieved party in the case of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, had requested the Permanent Three-Judge High Court to take action against him for contempt of court.
