The Right to Information Act will come into effect on February 4, 2017, Deputy Minister of Media Karunaratne Paranawithana said.

The RTI Act was a promise made by President Maithripala Sirisena during his Presidential Election campaign. However he could not implement it during the 100 Days Programme. nevertheless, the government introduced it to Parliament in March 2016.

The bill was challenged in the Supreme Court, which decided that some Articles of it violates the Constitution. The government later introduced an amended bill, which was passed.