Confusion over Eco Certificate : Drivers bear unnecessary burden due to alleged corruption in state

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By Mandulee Mendis

The latest buzz on the road rules state that it is a must for drivers to carry the Eco Certificate along with the driving licence, Vehicle Insurance and the Vehicle Revenue Certificate. Drivers have been complaining that the police demand to see the Eco Certificate, overruling the Vehicle Revenue Certificate which is legal proof that the vehicle has already passed the emission test. There is a great deal of confusion regarding this new requirement. 

 The Commissioner General of Motor Traffic S.H. Harischandra said that the law clearly states that all drivers must carry the Eco Certificate. The law which has existed for a long time was expected to be executed in all the provinces except Northern Province and Eastern Province. It was first implemented in the Western Province and gradually it went on to other provinces.



“From this year, we shall execute the law in Northern Province also,” he said.
‘Although the Vehicle Revenue Certificate proves that the vehicle has already been issued with the Eco Certificate, people have found out illegal ways of obtaining the Vehicle Revenue Certificate without the Eco Certificate. Therefore it has become mandatory to check for the Eco Certificate of vehicles.’ He further explained. He reminded of the time when people had to have a radio licence, too.

The Commissioner was of the opinion that it is better to carry both the Vehicle Revenue Certificate and the Eco Certificate in order to be on the safe side.

" The law which has existed for a long time was expected to be executed in all the provinces except Northern Province and Eastern Province. It was first implemented in the Western Province and gradually it went on to other provinces "

Police Media Spokesman G.M.H.B. Siriwardena said that it is a must for a driver to carry the Eco Certificate. ‘The law clearly states that a driver must carry the Eco Certificate along with the other certificates. The law has been implemented ever since it was introduced.’ he explained.
‘Speaking of fining, the police have the authority to fine those who do not follow the law.  Therefore the drivers who do not carry the Eco Certificate could be fined on the spot’ he pointed out.

 Considering the facts and figures, it is obvious that it is compulsory for the drivers to carry the Eco Certificate along with them. But the question remains: is it possible to obtain a Vehicle Revenue Certificate without an Eco Certificate illegally?
 Meanwhile Additional Secretary of  the Colombo District Secretariat, Champa Perera said that the rule which states that the drivers must carry the Eco Certificate along with the other documents has been put into practice ever since the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic brought it up.
‘The Eco Certificate of a vehicle is checked before issuing the Vehicle Revenue Certificate. What I can say is that no Vehicle Revenue Certificate for a vehicle is issued by any District Secretariat without an Eco Certificate’ she stated.