Sri Lanka’s Transport Ministry is set to introduce a new system to reduce traffic violations and road accidents, with a six-month pilot project scheduled to begin in October, Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake said. The minister said the demerit points system would deduct points from drivers based on traffic offences committed over a two-year period. The programme is expected to be implemented until March 31 next year.
The system will be operated digitally, while existing online methods for paying traffic fines will also be further expanded, he said.
Minister Rathnayake also announced that bus priority lane regulations in Colombo and selected suburbs will be strictly enforced from today (29).
He noted that nearly 2,750 people die in road accidents in Sri Lanka each year, causing an economic impact estimated at 3%–5% of the country’s GDP.
