Vehicle emission testing centres to be monitored

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The Government has launched a new inspection and monitoring program on Vehicle Emission Testing centres from this month. The new program will be effective countrywide and implemented in collaboration with the Department of Motor Traffic, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Department of Measurement Units, Standards and Services.

"With this step we are decentralising the inspection process of the vehicle emission testing centres all over the country. Each district will have a three-member team, each from the above organisations", Registrar of Motor Traffic S. R. Harischandra said.

The new inspection program covers all areas except the Northern Province, according to the Department of Motor Traffic. The new decentralised inspection program was launched to make the monitoring and control system more effective, according to Harischandra.

There are 319 emission testing centres including several mobile units operated by private institutes, Project Director of the Vehicle Emission Program, Department of Motor Traffic A. Dissanayake said. This inspection program will be in addition to the routine checks carried out by CEA officers.

The Department of Motor Traffic also carries out inspections on selected vehicles which show signs of inefficient combustion of fuel.

The selection is based on pictures taken by examiners of the Department of Motor Traffic during road side checks. The owners are identified through the vehicle registration process and informed by the Department in writing to be present at a specified inspection centre in their districts on a given date.