Crackdown on vehicles with illegal modifications from tomorrow

7 September 2025 01:45 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 27 Bookmark

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Colombo, Sept. 7 (Daily Mirror) - The government will begin strict enforcement of the law against vehicles operating with dangerous and unauthorised modifications from tomorrow (07), Deputy Transport Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena announced.

In a statement issued via his official Facebook account, Dr. Gunasena said particular focus will be placed on vehicles fitted with excessively loud sound systems and multi-coloured flashing lights, which are prohibited under transport regulations.

The move comes in the wake of Thursday night’s (04) fatal accident near the 24th milepost on the Ella–Wellawaya road, when a luxury jeep rear-ended a bus, sending it crashing through a metal barrier and plunging nearly 1,000 feet down a precipice.

Comments - 27

M Fernando Sunday, 07 September 2025 01:51 PM

"Crackdown on vehicles with illegal modifications from tomorrow. As before, the program will run for one week and be highly publicised. After one week, the program will be forgotten and it will be back to business as usual"

1 67

Lk Sunday, 07 September 2025 02:05 PM

You must have some sustainable checking system annually by police all the country not just one time : Many areas of checking Buses and other vehicles The quality of drivers and driving Maintaining of vehicles And others related to traffic laws

0 21

Dr Prasad Edirisooriya Monday, 08 September 2025 01:50 AM

As usual will be forgotten in one week. Aprasanna Pachasena is a no action Pacha talking only joker.

0 1

johan Sunday, 07 September 2025 02:12 PM

Do not renew license for such buses and any other vehicles with much outside decorations like chariots. We do not see these decorations in other countries. Impose motor traffic laws strictly or intact new laws to curb these nuisance

0 23

Be Consistent In Enforcing The Laws Sunday, 07 September 2025 02:17 PM

By now, NPP government should be familiar with how politics works in this country. Most citizens are getting used to the way things are being done and run. However, the enforcement part is still lacking and lethargic. People knows the wrong things which were done by the previous regime’s Misfits and want speedy and long term reforms by the current government. Going back to the buses with illegal modifications, a few months ago, the authorities were nabbing consistently. But it suddenly became redundant until the unfortunate accident last week resulting in deaths which I personally knew some there who was very friendly and kind. Time this government flexes its muscles and start rounding up those who act against the laws.

0 13

Dr. Dee esquire Sunday, 07 September 2025 02:26 PM

What about the running death traps aka sltb busses sans modifications or even basic safety ?

1 6

SLEx Sunday, 07 September 2025 02:39 PM

This is not a solution as they will forget it in 1 week. What we need is a separate enforcement agency under the Ministry of Transport so this can be enforced every day. Provide them the authority to fine and suggest any unlawful vehicles to court and all these accidents and unsafe modifications and driving will drastically reduce.

2 13

Anthony Sunday, 07 September 2025 02:51 PM

ALL WHAT IS DONE IS ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. ILLEGAL MODIFICATIONS SHOULD BE CONFUSECATED AND NOT PERMITED TO RUN ON THE ROADS REKLACE DRIVERS THEIR LICENSE SHOUD BE SUSUPENDED. ALL EXIXISTING LICENCE HOLDERS SHOULD FACE A DRIVING TEST, SINCE MOST OF THEM GOT THEIR LICENCE BY PAYING BRIBES.

1 10

B P Sunday, 07 September 2025 03:01 PM

People with low mentality do gaudy decorations inside and outside of their buses. They are concerned only on those things, not the comfort, safety of the passengers or the mechanical condition of the vehicle. Almost all private buses are running pandals.

0 12

Ram P Sunday, 07 September 2025 03:07 PM

Traffic Police who are on the road have the power to check vehicles, so it need not be a special project publicising what's intended

0 3

CitizenP Sunday, 07 September 2025 03:10 PM

This action had been a broad dissemination few months ago but it dissapeared with no result.

0 8

Don’t make a mockery of it Sunday, 07 September 2025 03:16 PM

If the government is planning to start this again they should see it to the very end without giving into pressure by bus owners n Trasport unions. No point announcing all this if you don’t have the courage to see it through and making a mockery of the whole thing. The majority of people have given you a mandate to do good things for the good of the people, this is one so hope you will get it done this time.

0 13

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 07 September 2025 07:16 PM

Transport unions are not an issue because those are JVP led but bus owners are the problem. Previously when Gota started cracking down these busses both JVP led unions and Bus owners got together to disrupt it.

2 2

Lakmal Kahawela Sunday, 07 September 2025 03:30 PM

I thought this was implemented some time back by the present government

0 11

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 07 September 2025 07:14 PM

It was initiated by Gotabhaya government but due to JVP led unions and bus owners opposing it through strikes and disruptions it ended in failure. The present government tried it too but the bus owners wanted 3 months but that time has passed now.

2 1

Driver Sunday, 07 September 2025 04:03 PM

LANES ARE 3. BUT VEHICLES 5 WHY FIRST TEACH THEM LANE HOW TO DRIVE ON LANE. SECONDLY BUS DRIVERS ZIGZAG DRIVING THIRD FOLLOWS THE BUS STOPS, ONLY BUS STOPS SIGN PLACE ONLY. SPECIALLY I AM SO MANY TIMES NOTICED “””“ ALL DRIVERS NOT GIVEN PRIORITY TO AMBULANCES “”@@@

0 2

rizwan hakeem Sunday, 07 September 2025 04:35 PM

Roadworthiness tests should be done once a year for public transport vehicles.

0 1

Ranga Sunday, 07 September 2025 04:52 PM

Why can't the law enforcement become a part of life??? You slow down because of a union or two but then the entire population have to pay the price

0 1

Action, not talk is the need of the moment Sunday, 07 September 2025 05:09 PM

Hello Mr Minister, This is knee jerk reaction. This should be a BAU (business as usual) activity. There must be constant evaluation of safety violations, not just when a bus goes down a precipice.

0 1

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 07 September 2025 06:02 PM

Issa big kocchan. As usual they are addressing the low priority issue. Not only making these modifications illegal , the enforcement action should cover, erratic driving, driver spot checks for drug usage, confiscating the vehicle and a fine to the owners, yearly technical checkup by an authorised party, regulation of Driver training instructors. But instead they just spend time blaming Rajapakshas .

3 2

M Fahim b Sunday, 07 September 2025 06:33 PM

When these guys are about to Poop

0 1

M Fernando Sunday, 07 September 2025 06:36 PM

The Deputy Transport Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena assures the travelling Public that the "strict enforcement" will run for one week with lots of pictures of Policemen and Buses in newspapers and on the TV. Transport Ministry and Police will ensure that this will all be forgotten by next Sunday and we will return to the usual mayhem and loss of life by the following Monday.

0 2

Cassie Sunday, 07 September 2025 06:45 PM

I don't understand why the article says the SUV driver rear ended the bus and sent it down the precipice when mechanical or brake failure or driver DUI all are claimed. How can you rear end a vehicle if you maintain your driving distance? It's totally the fault of the SUV based on this article, so these other reasons are a cover up? May be SUV driver has some political crutch? I don't know why this case is becoming complicated.

0 2

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 07 September 2025 10:38 PM

It will last for a week. Then the bus strike , then the operation will be postponed for 90 days. Then gorget about it. After the next tragedy, do it again gor another week. End of 5 years nothing would have changed.

1 1

Helpless Public Sunday, 07 September 2025 11:21 PM

Bring in new laws, punishments, speed control, review roads for safety, these are urgent and important, and need to implemented immediately, rather than wasting time on petty things again and again. (Like decorations).Due to this lack of understanding we are loosing so many lives daily.

0 2

Ismail Mujizath Monday, 08 September 2025 01:03 AM

Even with loud noise song in practice by most of the drivers

0 0

Man Monday, 08 September 2025 04:55 AM

Speed control and music control are the most important things but nothing is done about either one!

0 0

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