Greening Sri Lanka’s transportation: Will it ever really happen?

The world is experiencing the greatest transformation in the transport system since the early 1900's when gasoline powered cars first triumphed over electric, also replacing horse- drawn carriages.

Lithium batteries have enabled electrified transportation to finally catch up with gasoline, giving designers more vehicle design options and opening the door to ending the dominance of the oil industry.

To catch up with the transformation in transportation, Sri Lanka will have to go a long way to shift from the present use of gasoline powered, new and used vehicles as well as 3-wheeler dominated transport system to electrified transportation.

Although the government has shifted its priorities to minimise air pollution by promoting electric vehicles to a certain extent, it has failed to stick to a constant policy on eliminating the used vehicle and 3-wheeler dominance which has become a menace at present.

On one hand Sri Lanka is seriously considering the possibility of removing old 15 years and over un-roadworthy vehicles numbering around 1.2 million from the roads to meet more efficient transportation needs of urban areas, but on the other hand promotes the import of used vehicles.

This inconsistent policy stance is clearly demonstrated in the 2017 budget proposal to increase the age limit for importing lorries and refrigerated trucks with capacity over 5 Metric tonne to 10 years to support local industries.

The government’s decision is surprising because even in India action has been taken to scrap commercial vehicles older than 10 years while considering some incentives to owners to encourage them to surrender old vehicles.

This decision to import old trucks is not consistent with the government’s declared policy of less emission and improved fuel consumption.

Used cars

Used vehicles put off the road in Japan by state intervention are exported to other Asian and African nations.

Sri Lanka has become a dumping ground for such vehicles and within a few years the country will have to face a problem of getting rid of a massive junk.

Compared to a 10-year- old vehicle, today’s trucks are more fuel- efficient and less polluting. New vehicles will cause a rush in sales, so even if the government cuts the import duty of such vehicles they stand to gain in the short and long run.

Import of auto spare parts will also be increased costing millions of dollars in foreign exchange as a result of promoting old vehicles and used vehicles including trucks which needs frequent repairs to maintain its road worthiness.

The total amount of pollution caused by a vehicle is not merely a function of its age, but the number of miles it is operated and whether the fuel is diesel or petrol.

More pollution is caused by diesel vehicles which are promoted by subsidised diesel in Sri Lanka.

Diesel is under-priced in Sri Lanka by successive governments which believe that inflation is caused by diesel, though diesel is more expensive to import, causes more pollution and is now a known carcinogen.

This has promoted the use of diesel guzzling, pick-up trucks, vans and SUVs.

Though petrol and LP gas powered cars produces mostly carbon dioxide - a life giving non-polluting gas essential for plant and human life - and water as effluents, diesel vehicles produce a host of additional gases including oxides of nitrogen and sulfur as well as particles that may be harmful to health.

International trade in used vehicles between rich and poor countries has enormous implications for the mobility of people in developing countries, but it also has environmental consequences.

3-wheel menace

Sri Lanka should strongly take up the 3-wheeler menace if it wants a positive transformation in transportation.

The country has nearly 1.3 million 3-wheelers operating here and they are the most vulnerable to accidents and environment pollution and many other criminal and nefarious activities.

As such, to improve the safety of the drivers as well as passengers, the government is encouraging the replacement of 3-wheelers with electric cars.

As an initial step, the government will within the Colombo district, extend its support by introducing a loan scheme to purchase 1,000 such electric cars, through the banks, where the government will bear 50 per cent of the interest cost by allocating Rs. 200 million from 2017 budget.

This is a welcome move in tackling the 3-wheeler menace and air pollution. But it should stick to this policy without changing it even if there is political pressure.

The Transport Ministry has also decided to limit the import of 3-wheelers in future and to issue licences to drive 3-wheelers only to persons above the age of 35 years.

New rules and regulations are to be introduced regarding the transportation of passengers in three-wheelers. 3-wheelers came into the market at the end of the 1980s and there were no laws to regulate the service.

The action taken by the government to regulate 3-wheelers even after three decades is a welcome sign but today there is a need to consider all aspects including regulations before allowing the introduction of new and modern transport systems.

We should not repeat the mistake made over the 30 years ago without considering the consequences under the open economy.

3-wheelers account for around 6 per cent of the passenger kilometres. These vehicles are mostly individually operated with some owned by the operator and others hired on a monthly or daily basis.

The industry is unregulated with vehicle registration and driving licenses being the only instruments of regulation. Fares are also unregulated.

Sri Lanka is now facing the consequences of youngsters getting into 3-wheeler driving, as some of them were getting involved with nefarious activities such as giving a helping hand to drug peddlers, prostitutes and other criminals.

People’s movement

A strong peoples-movement is essential against the 3-wheel trade which has robbed the youths’ economic potential and is on the verge of affecting vocational training in the country.

The government should immediately implement the decision to limit the import of 3-wheelers in future and to issue licences to drive 3-wheelers only to persons above the age of 35 years. It should not deviate from this policy.

In another positive move Anti lock breaking System (ABS) and Air Bags will be made compulsory.

There might be a price increase in small car segment because the cheapest brand new ABS and Air Bag equipped car will cost more than Rs. 3 million.

In the South Asian region, the eco- friendly trend will pick up in the coming years as many people across the region have begun to use electric or hybrid cars while motorists in South Asia will most likely switch to greener and more economical rides in the future.