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Air Emission Regulation to be enforced next year

by Rajmi Manatunga

The Air Emission Regulation which will move derelict vehicles producing black smoke off the roads are to take effect from January 1, 2003.

The rule under the new National Environmental (Air Emission, Fuel and Vehicle Importation Standards) Regulations gazetted in June 2000 authorises transport authorities to control air emission and fine derelict vehicles using fuel with a high percentage of sulphur which results in belching, causing a serious threat to health.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Rukman Senanayake said that the Ministry will not enforce the regulation strictly at the beginning as the majority of vehicles in Sri Lanka do not use low-sulphur diesel. "We hope to enforce the law step by step and first send 10 per cent of the vehicles detected for air emission out of the road" he said.

Meanwhile, bus operators claim that the low standard fuel available in the country is a main factor of belching.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has agreed to import low sulphur diesel and other standard fuel to the country from next year to solve this.

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