Importation of two-stroke three-wheelers to be stopped

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Government is to stop the importation of two-stroke three-wheelers owing to the harmful effect they have on the environment.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Maitripala Sirisena said he has presented a Cabinet memorandum seeking a ban on the importation of two-stroke three-wheelers which have vastly contributed to air pollution especially in the Capital.

"Once the proposal is approved, we will allow only four-stroke three-wheelers to be brought into the country. It has been scientifically proven that the pollutants released to the air by four-stroke trishaws are less."

According to the Central Environmental Authority, over 90 per cent of three-wheelers used in Sri Lanka are two-stroke. The marginally higher price of the four-stroke kind has led more people to opt for the two-stroke three-wheeler.