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.