Record number of vehicles hits Lankan roads
by Ananda KANNANGARA
The Motor Traffic Department has revealed that the recent tax
reduction effected by the Government on imported vehicles prompted the
import of a record number of 185,595 new motor vehicles during the first
seven months of this year.
In addition to a large number of motor cars, other types of vehicles
such as three-wheelers, motor cycles, single cabs, motor lorries and
tractors were registered with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
during this period.
Motor Traffic Commissioner General, B.D.L. Dharmapriya told the
Sunday Observer that due to the tax concession, more vehicles could be
expected on Lankan roads during the next three months.
He said during the 12-month period of last year, only 204,075 new
motor vehicles had been registered in the country.
"When comparing the number of new vehicles registered during 2009 and
during the first seven months of 2010, we could expect a 50 percent
increase in new vehicles during the next five months," he said.
According to RMV statistics, 4,069 motor cars, 45,044 three-wheelers,
113,953 motor cycles, 1,101 motor coaches, 2,889 single cabs, 6,985
lorries 7,037 hand tractors and 1,277 trailers were registered during
the first seven months of this year.
He said 5,762 new motor cars, 37,364 three wheelers, 135,421 motor
cycles, 739 buses, 1,280 dual-purpose vehicles, 8,225 lorries and 13,951
land vehicle- trailers were registered with the RMV in 2009.
He said 3.7 million motor vehicles have been registered in the
country since the establishment of the Department in 1928.
He predicted that this number would double in the years to come.
On the delays with regard to new vehicle registrations and transfer
of used vehicles, the Commissioner General said that unlike in the past,
the administrative network in the RMV is computerised and this situation
helps the Department to carry out new vehicle registrations and
transfers of vehicles within a period of less than 45 days.
He said apart from the normal service, people could have their
vehicle transfers and registrations carried out under the `One Day'
service program.
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