The Island
Corruption Watch, an independent body that monitors activities in the public sector, expressed surprise that the Motor Traffic Department, which is one of the government institutions noted for corruption, had been awarded the National Productivity Award.
Western Provincial Councilor Rohana Gamage told a media conference, at the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers’ auditorium on Tuesday, that the department was incurring a loss of Rs 800 million annually by entrusting the issue of driving licences to a private company despite an earlier government undertaking that the issue of driving licences won’t be privatized.
He said that the private company had violated tender procedures.
According to the rules the department should issue a driving license within a month but at present it takes several months before a person who passes the driving test gets a licence. Heavy vehicle licenses take nearly two years, he said.
Earlier, a person had to spend only Rs 600 to obtain a driving license but at present the official expenditure alone costs Rs 2,250 and instead of issuing a minimum of 30,000 licences a month the private firm issues only half that number, Corruption Watch charged.The Corruption Watch demanded to know whether the Minister of Transport was aware of the happenings.