All transport services to come under the state?

12 May 2025 03:11 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 32 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, May 12 (Daily Mirror) - The Government is to take steps towards declaring three wheelers, school vans, and office transport vehicles as transportation services that can be operated as interprovincial modes of transport as per the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill which was presented to Parliament last week.

All these modes of transportation will have to be registered with the National Transportation Commission under the new legislation.

“The Minister may, on recommendation of the commission, by order published in the gazette declare office transport service, school transport services and three wheeler services designate as transportation services that could be operated on inter provincial basis.

“Every transport service provider shall be registered with the National Transport Commission and permit which will be referred to as ‘transportation service permit’) will be issued to service provider by the commission,” according to the Bill. The transport service provider shall not provide transportation service unless registered with the commission.

Minister of Transport will be vested with the power to categorize transportation service into classes while the commission shall issue a certificate to the transportation permit holder in accordance with the categorization. This certificate will have to be displayed on the windscreen of the vehicle.

Another salient feature of the legislation is that transportation fares will have to be approved by Parliament after its computation by the transportation commission in accordance with a formula determined by the commission itself. The commission shall publish a list of transportation fares in its official website. The transportation providers will be bound to exhibit fares in their respective vehicles.

Comments - 32

Dr Tissa Fernando Monday, 12 May 2025 03:41 AM

Thats a good move by NPP now you are moving in the right direction

7 45

Grace Monday, 12 May 2025 12:41 PM

True. After they learned a shocking lesson on the 6th May 2025

8 7

Correction Monday, 12 May 2025 03:31 PM

Comment irregular. This legislation is for the transportation fares to be regularised and different vehicles being registered. Nothing to do with the election results.

0 3

Zarook Monday, 12 May 2025 01:37 PM

Pacha Kumara no action Pacha talking only. Biggest crooks are advising Pacha Kumara example Usuf and Hulangona.

13 3

Zarook Monday, 12 May 2025 03:46 AM

National Pacha Pava was waiting for such an opportunity.

46 12

S P Monday, 12 May 2025 05:13 AM

As a concept this is a very good idea - different operators working under a government regulating authority. These operators should be made separate private companies competing with each other on price, quality of service and customer care under fixed time tables (not the rule of the jungle running races on our roads). Whatever happens this has to be thought over carefully but obviously this will go against the ‘state is best’ and the ‘anti privatisation’ ideology of this government.

0 22

Ramesh Jayaratne Monday, 12 May 2025 05:14 AM

Wow, this is great news, like in other countries , well done Gov .

2 37

sivalingham Monday, 12 May 2025 05:26 AM

good move to register as crimes committed using these vehicles will be controlled .But the minister has to address speeding and reckless driving which is easy to control by the police but not done for some hidden motives . If the govt is sincere about reducing accidents get the police on the road to work on roster 24*7

1 20

BnW Monday, 12 May 2025 05:51 AM

So, what benefits this registration gives to public, other than joke of charge regulation. Permits, regulations, procedures and systems must only aim at making public life better and definitely not as another revenue robbery and making already useless government servants a justification.

19 13

Naushad Monday, 12 May 2025 07:15 AM

Great move. all transportation mode must be integrated with government grid, so gradually visibility can be implemented by digitizing, will eradicate illegal means out. Go ahead AKD

3 14

Sarath Silva Monday, 12 May 2025 07:36 AM

Recommendations such as * Registration with National Transportation commission and obtain a transportation service permit * Categorize transportation into classes * Having certificate display on windscreen * Making amendments to transportation fares ***Look, 22 innocent lives have lost, and a large number of people have got injured with this latest accident. Do you think any of the above recommendations would reduce the various types of accidents happening daily basis on the roads? You got to seriously consider the following I guess * Speeding and overtaking - Fatigue of drivers - drug test - loud music in the buses - using mobile phones while driving - reduce excessive decorations in busses - check roadworthy of transportation vehicles - get vehicles serviced on due times. I believe attention should be given to above very seriously. If not unfortunately the same will keep happening and more innocent lives will be in danger *** A Concerned citizen

3 12

Insider Monday, 12 May 2025 03:27 PM

You are confused. This Act of Parliament is not to reduce the various types of accidents happening daily basis on the roads but an administrative effort to regularise the transport of passengers where fees are charged. Mally Pol.

1 7

Takover Monday, 12 May 2025 07:44 AM

You cannot fix crime. You don't know what to do about investments into the country because you have a stuck in the mud leftist ideology. You cannot bear to deregulate anything or force the government service to be more efficient because you are basically a radical leftist trade union who went on strike at the drop of a hat but now find your selves in power and cannot comprehend that what needs to be done is the exact thing you took to the streets to protest about. So what to do? Oh yes take control of private assets. State control of everything like Brother Castro's Cuba.

4 11

Educate Yourself Before Voting Monday, 12 May 2025 08:07 AM

Those who voted with emotion thought they avenged the previous regime but they only cut the nose to spite the face. Communist-socialist policies and agenda include nationalising everything. If you don't believe me then check the NPP Wikipedia page.

5 16

Old driver Monday, 12 May 2025 08:16 AM

YOU MUST CONTROL THE DRIVERS. TEACH THEM EDUCATE THEM GIVE THEM PROPER NEAT UNIFORMS TAKE ACTIONS NOT OBEY RULES AND REGULATIONS. MAKE PROPER BUS STOP PICKUP/DROP PAX ( GO THROUGH THE PAST FROM 1965 —- 1975 YEAR HOW WAS DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS ).

1 11

S P Monday, 12 May 2025 12:03 PM

Yes we very well remember those days. The bus drivers leaving passengers abandoned at halts, waiting for a bus under hot sun without knowing when will one arrive or whether we could get into them, conductors/drivers treating passengers like they are doing us a favour by allowing us to get in, after every election the employees of the previous administration in CTB being transferred with husband to Jaffna and the wife to Hambanthota and election violence being heaped upon the political opponents. At least nowadays we have plenty buses running, willingly taking us in (obviously only just that as once inside they are treated like garbage) the current system has its own different types of issues. So we should not talk about going back to those dark days but improving from what we have now. It’s not rocket science as many countries in the world have improved their public transport systems remarkably. So lessons are everywhere only thing necessary is a good government to make use of them.

0 6

Passengers Monday, 12 May 2025 08:29 AM

Wishful thinking! Anyway, good luck with the rowdy 3wheeler drivers and the bus drivers!! Hope this is not just another "talk" ! Up-to-date no authority has been able to get the private buses to issue a mere ticket!!

0 10

MELVILLE PERERA Monday, 12 May 2025 08:49 AM

Internationally recognized (AA) in Sri Lanka is hardly heard of or (does it exist spiritually?) as a visit to its four storied building in an elite location ( Galle Face) almost adjoining a "convenient" leading hotel constructed from funds from its members one would observe it appears to be a unique unhygienic alcohol atmosphere filled boozing club with one solitary dim light and antique squealing fan and "quick bites" " patronised " by all and sundry excepts perhaps motorists. Could this be called a bright idea for ROAD SAFETY with a motto reading DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE??? and an institution supposedly dealing with motoring road safety???

1 4

Pusa Monday, 12 May 2025 09:48 AM

Dear NPP: please go implement such socialist ideas and then put a large bureaucracy behind it with your unemployed graduates and ruin this industry too. It will only hasten your demise. Please do it without delay !!

4 9

Justice Monday, 12 May 2025 10:21 AM

Before all that why don't you make the judiciary FULLY INDEPENDENT from the clutches of the politicians? Also why do judges have to make their oath in front of the President?

0 0

ROHAN Monday, 12 May 2025 10:51 AM

UNDER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WHAT WILL HAPPNED TO THE SERVICE IS IT GOING TO BE A MIRACLE, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN ONLY THE GOVERNMENT WILL COLLECT ADDITIONAL REVENUE WHEN THEY REGIDTRED WITH THE NTC. WAIT AND SEE NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.

3 0

Vishwa Monday, 12 May 2025 12:08 PM

Can you allow one card payment for all mode of transports.

0 3

John Rajaratnam Monday, 12 May 2025 12:23 PM

Excellent - I was shocked shocked shocked recently (about 1 year ago) when National Transport Commission and Ministry of Transport told me Uber and Pickme are not registered with them and merely operate as Private Companies. I called them as I had unresolved problems and wanted to turn to a regulatory authority like in London for redress.

0 4

Gamini Bandara Monday, 12 May 2025 12:57 PM

This is a good move. Sri Lanka need some regulations on the private transport sector. It would be a tough task for the government.

1 5

Sha Monday, 12 May 2025 01:00 PM

There are more pressing issues that need attention before this. First of all, this move would only give current government officials another opportunity to deceive the public under the guise of issuing so-called permits. Why can’t the government focus on improving the quality of the public transport system instead? People across the country are already struggling, why introduce more regulations now? Is it just to make life harder for taxi drivers who are already earning mere pennies? Why does the government always seem to target small businesses like these? Start by cleaning up corruption among government officials first.

2 1

DPerera Monday, 12 May 2025 01:11 PM

Another layer of bureaucracy in addition to DMV and there's no reason this will improve transport services. This will bring us one step closer to North Korea.

1 6

lankan Monday, 12 May 2025 02:28 PM

We have so many rules and still new rules coming, but what if that rules not implement same as old rules . so making system is good f its implement in correct way, otherwise this also garbage.

0 5

N.Canags Monday, 12 May 2025 03:07 PM

Sadly, no one has spoken about the road worthiness of vehicles on the road. There must be an annual safety check up to avoid accidents, in addition to training and re training of heavy vehicle drivers with random checks/spot fines.

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Saliya Monday, 12 May 2025 04:44 PM

Not only the transport. Private health sector also needs some regulations. Specially private hospitals charg very unfair rates from patients. Doctors charge thumping amounts for visits. Government has no guts take action for those.

0 3

Foot note Monday, 12 May 2025 05:53 PM

Good but how long will it take to get the permit? It takes many months to receive permanent driving license after a renewal.

0 1

Hadi Tuesday, 13 May 2025 09:56 AM

Three wheelers are responsible for 3545 road accident in 2024.Therefore add 3 wheelers strict road decipline clause to the new act

0 1

Alam Tuesday, 13 May 2025 10:23 AM

Rubbish over regulation will bring gate keepers who are crooks. Npp guys will start their mafia.

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