MTD’s driving licence procedure under fire from COPA

Sri Lanka’s present procedure of issuing driving licences has come under severe criticism of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) recently.

COPA Chairman and Deputy Finance Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that malpractices could occur at the Motor Traffic Department (MTD) as all the activities related to issuing of driving licence are carried out by motor vehicle examiners only.

The COPA observed that the computerized system to examine, which was introduced 10 years ago to issue driving license is not being implemented at present.

The committee expressed its displeasure over deviating from the computerised system and for not following the new technological methods.

The Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) of the MTD informed that the computerised testing system was not in operation as of now and added that a written examination was held first for issuing driving licences.

The Committee directed the CAO to submit a report to them regarding the old method for issuing driving licenses, non-implementation of testing method and new measures adopted following the amendment of the Motor Traffic Act.

It has been revealed that due to unsatisfactory practical tests conducted by the department in issuing driving licences, inexperienced drivers get involved in accidents.

The e-motoring project launched in 2009 with an investment of Rs. 740 million is now underway.

Accordingly the computer programme has commenced spending Rs. 6.4 million to link up with the Sri Lanka Customs and digital scanning programme for the conservation of files.

The CAO MTD told the committee that the selection of bidders for this project for which procurement activities commenced last year had been finalised and that plans had been made to award tenders. He added that it was expected to implement the project by the end of 2018.