200 school service vehicles checked; 72 found unroadworthy

Nimal WIJESINGHE Anuradhapura additional district group correspondent

Of the nearly 200 school service vehicles checked in Anuradhapura including Mihintale, Rambawewa, Medawachchiya, Kebithigollewa and Kahatagasdigiliya, 72 were detected as unroadworthy.

"These vehicles had worn tyres, engine defects and torn upholstery," Anuradhapura Traffic Police OIC Inspector Palitha Nissanka said.

"Most vehicles had 16 to 18 students whereas only eight could be accommodated," he said. Police assisted by officers attached to the Examiner's Department Anuradhapura examined vehicles transporting school children. The Anuradhapura Traffic Police and the Motor Vehicle Examiner's Office, Anuradhapura launched a districtwide programme to detect errant drivers and out of date and non-road worthy vehicles last week.

"We severely warned drivers of these vehicles and gave two weeks to attend to the defects to prove their roadworthiness", Nissanka said.

He said on Saturday a full scale traffic operation would be launched covering all enter points to Anuradhapura city to detect unqualified and errant drivers and non-roadworthy vehicles.