Prez wants electronic payment system for fines

President Maithripala Sirisena instructed officials yesterday to examine the possibility of implementing a method to pay traffic-related fines without much hassle while removing the existing obstacles as well as to look into the possibility of introducing paying the fines through an Electronic Payment System.

During this meeting, attention was also drawn regarding minimizing road accidents, and even though the Department of Motor Traffic introduced a ‘Point Based System’ for drivers in 2009 with the aim of minimizing road accidents, due to the technical problems, it has not been successful. president Sirisena gave instructions to the officials on the implementation of a speedy procedure with stringent rules to control crimes, drug smuggling and the underworld activities introducing necessary legal reforms.he emphasized this during a special meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat regarding the amendments to the Bills of the controlling of drugs, crime, and the minimizing of road accidents.

Attention was drawn on the legal issues pertaining to drug raids at the meeting. President Sirisena scrutinized the progress of legal reforms in relation to the special procedure implemented with the assistance of the

Tri- Forces on drug raids and instructed the Legal Draftsman’s Department to complete the task within the next two weeks.

President Sirisena also inquired into the progress of the works related to removing the legal obstacles on police officers when they file cases against suspects of illegal alcohol and drug raids. He advised the officials to submit a report in this regard to the Cabinet next week.

Furthermore, discussions were held regarding making amendments for the penalties pertaining to drug offences. Attention was also drawn to the changes that should be made in the prison sector.