The release of the Gazette which will bring into effect the revised road traffic fines is expected to come into effect this month, after a month’s lapse, the Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Dr Sisira Kodagoda said yesterday.
Speaking to the Sunday Observer, he stated that setbacks at relevant Government agencies are hampering the process which has resulted in the delay.
“There have been a series of delays at the Department of Motor Traffic, Legal Draftsman’s Department and the Ministry of Transport” Dr Kodagoda said adding that the DMT and Legal Draftsman’s Department have...claimed the lack of staff and other prioritized official duties for the long hold up.
According to Dr Kodagoda, Ministry of Transport officials are also said to be acting in a lackluster manner while however continuous meetings are being held with the relevant agencies to expedite the matter. Meanwhile, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala De Silva is said to have issued an ultimatum to the Ministry staff regarding all pending gazette notifications. According to Dr Kodagoda, the Minister has demanded that all pending gazette notifications be issued by October 30 prior to the presentation of the 2018 Budget in November. The newly revised traffic fines for several offences was a 2017 Budget proposal and the long drawn process has resulted in it taking around one year to come into being.