Motor Traffic Dept issues over 25,000 Smart Driving Cards

New system progressing well:

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

[Smart Driving Cards]

* Kurunegala District Office go online next month

* Applications processed under new system

* Driving licence issue - a streamlined process

The Department of Motor Traffic has issued over 25,000 Smart Driving Cards, the new automated driving licence cards launched on March 27 this year and it is progressing well, Motor Traffic Commissioner, B. Wijayaratne told Daily News Business.

The Department became the first paperless office in Sri Lanka with the introduction of this electronic filing system.

The District Offices will be converted to an online system and the first district office to go online will be Kurunegala by the middle of next month.

The offices in Gampaha, Kalutara and Anuradhapura will follow suit, he said.

All applications are now processed under this system which was launched in March.

The Department has taken steps to minimize delays and provides an efficient service, he said.

The Department earned Rs. 1,387.8 million for the first nine months of the year for the services provided including vehicle registration and transfers. We have generated income from motor vehicle levies and fees under the powers vested in the Motor Vehicle Act, he said.

There was a 48 percent drop in the number of vehicles registered for the first nine months this year.

The Department also collected a sales tax of Rs. 20 million from vehicles disposed of within seven years of registration.

The Department levies a charge of Rs. 3,000 as sales tax from every vehicle. Over Rs. 211.6 million was raised from the semi luxury and luxury vehicle tax for petrol and diesel vehicles with an engine capacity of 1,800 and 2,000, he said.

The Department is geared to face the future demand and automation has played a key role in its progress.

The issue of driving licences is a streamlined process and it is more convenient than the old system, he said.