Upward Revision of Rs 25,000 Fine & 10 Years Prison Term For Traffic Offences

In 2017  annual budget, Rs 25,000 fine was imposed for seven specific traffic offences . There was hue and cry against this Rs 25,000 fine in the island. While one section of the population  appreciated it , another section which included motorists and vehicle owners  protested against it.  Hence,  on a directive given by the President,   a committee comprised of  Secretary  to the Finance Ministry , Secretary  to the Transport Ministry , Secretary  to the Ministry of Justice and representative  of Motor Traffic Department and police  was appointed to review it , and make their recommendation.  The committee has made it’s  recommendation in the recent past, which was rejected by the Transport Unions . Transport Unions was   given time  to submit their observation on their recommendation within a specified  period .

In the meantime, the committee has revealed that  there was  proposal  to increase  the fine between 30,000 and 50,000 for seven specific traffic offences.  Similarly another proposal was made  to  sentence them from    three months  to  ten years jail term  and cancel the driving licence.

 The report by the committee  is scheduled to be presented to the Parliament in the first week of March 2017 by the Minister of Transport Nimal Siripala De Silva .