INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
It has actually been exposed at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) that due to the failure to charge the prescribed costs for the
registration of 296 bikes falling under the engine capacity classification of 201 to 450cc, the federal government has sustained a loss of
78.15 million, the Parliamentary Communications Department stated in a statement.Additionally, it has been revealed that 3,088 bikes had
been signed up without Cabinet approval and without the required legal documents needed for registration.This concern was discussed during a
current conference of COPA, chaired by Member of Parliament Aravinda Senaratne, held on March 21 at Parliament.The conversation concentrated
on the Auditor Generals reports for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, pertaining to the Department of Motor Traffic and its existing
efficiency, according to the statement.Although the Department of Motor Traffic had actually previously been summoned before the Committee
on 10.03.2025 to discuss these issues, it was sent back due to an absence of proper preparation.Furthermore, COPA inquired into the
application of suggestions issued throughout its meetings kept in 2019
A detailed conversation happened regarding 25 points presented by the Auditor General worrying prohibited car registrations that had
actually occurred before the integration of the Sri Lanka Customs computer system
The examinations conducted on this matter and the disciplinary actions taken against the accountable authorities by the Department of Motor
Traffic were likewise reviewed.During this discussion, the committee strongly slammed the departments failure to take disciplinary action
against the responsible officials
It was emphasized that the reports submitted in this regard were entirely unacceptable, according to the Parliamentary Communications
Department.As a result, the Chairman suggested that instant disciplinary procedures be taken which an independent team of officials be
designated to conduct the needed investigations.COPA also dealt with deceitful car registration certificates released by incorporating the
engine and chassis numbers of unlawfully imported lorries into pre-existing signed up lorry numbers
It was revealed that this had resulted in a loss of Rs
1.2 billion to the government.Additionally, the committee took a look at the fraudulent issuance of car registration certificates for unused
uninhabited registration numbers by the Department of Motor Traffic, which had caused a loss of Rs
6.2 million to the government.Moreover, the misuse of diplomatic vehicle registration numbers to register other lorries had led to a
The Auditor General highlighted the importance of making the public familiar with these concerns, it added.Following a questions into the
corruption, fraud, and irregularities within the Department of Motor Traffic, the committee recommended that disciplinary actions be taken
versus all accountable authorities which the development of these actions be examined monthly.It was also recommended that the appropriate
legal enforcement authorities take the essential steps to implement the law concerning any criminal activities that had actually taken
place.The conference was gone to by committee members, including Deputy Ministers Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekera, Sugath
Tilakaratne, Sundaralingam Pradeep, Nalin Hewage, and Members of Parliament J.C
Alawathuwala, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Hector Appuhami, Kaveendiran Kodiswaran, Manjula Suraveera Arachchi, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika
Athawuda, Oshani Umanga, Ruwanthalaka Jayakody, Susanta Kumara Navaratne, Chandana Suriyaarachchi, (Dr.) Janaka Senaratne, Chanaka Madugoda,
Jayasundara, Dinindu Saman, and Lal Premanath, together with a number of government officials.
