The Sri Lankan Police today commenced its crackdown on illegal vehicle modifications and unsafe driving practices. 

The officers have started inspecting vehicles across Sri Lanka to ensure compliance with the Motor Traffic Act and related regulations.

The following pictures are of the operation conducted in the Galle District.

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Sri Lanka Police says the programme to remove unauthorised equipment and modifications on vehicles will be relaunched from 01 July. 

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Traffic Control and Road Safety, Indika Hapugoda, said these modifications include bright lights, loudspeakers, and metal poles.

He further said that it has been observed that such vehicle modifications most often cause severe harm to the victims of accidents. 

“815 pedestrians were killed in road accidents in 2024. Around 800 motorcyclists and pillion riders, aged 18-28, were reported dead last year. In 2024, the Motor Traffic Department identified 8788 vehicles that were unsuitable to operate on the roads,” he said. 

DIG Indika Hapugoda said it has also been observed that accidents are being caused due to unsuitable vehicles plying on the road.

“Therefore, no matter what issues and objections are made, these unauthorised modifications in vehicles will be removed,” he added. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to appoint a committee to examine the effects of modifications and decorations in passenger transport buses on public safety. 

The committee, representing all relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Port, and Civil Aviation, is tasked with submitting a report with the recommendations for taking proper action in this regard. 

Changing the design and modification of the buses could be made with the prior approval of the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic in compliance with the orders issued as per the provisions of the Motor Traffic Act.

The Motor Vehicles (Construction) Orders published in the year 1983 have been amended from time to time, and the regulations relevant to how modifications could be made have been published in the Gazette Notifications. 

According to the government, however, in the recent past, in addition to fixing the vehicle components and changing the construction declared by such orders, the Department of Motor Traffic has prepared a code of guidelines for the decoration of buses and modification of components through the internal procedure and issued an internal circular. 

The government states the relevant orders have not been published as per the provisions of the Motor Traffic Act. 

Therefore, taking into consideration these factors and having studied the impact caused to the security of the passengers travelling by buses, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport to appoint a committee to submit a report with the recommendations for taking proper action in this respect. (Newswire)

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A factory with a workforce of 80 employees is set to shut down due to the vehicle modification removal programme by the Police under the Government’s ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ national programme.

Located in Bandaragama, the factory manufactures modification accessories for three-wheelers, under a government-approved licence. 

However, the owner of the factory has decided to close the factory due to the impact of the modification removal programme under the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project by the Police. 

Speaking to the media, the owner of the factory said he had conducted his business after receiving the approval of the Ministry of Industries and that the designs of all the modification accessories manufactured are approved by the ministry. 

Questioning why the government had approved the business, the owner further revealed that he had sent written petitions to several government departments in this regard, but is yet to receive a response. 

Stating that his business has completely been halted due to the government’s new programme, he said he has been forced to shut down his factory, resulting in the loss of jobs for his 80 factory workers. (Newswire)

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