NTMI bogus certificates:

Probe to nab printers

Irangika RANGE

A probe is underway to nab persons who had printed bogus medical certificates issued by the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI), Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake told the Daily News yesterday.

He said that NTMI has introduced a new scheme where medical certificates cannot be printed fraudulently. "We have received reports of a number of fraudulent activities being carried out by certain parties in issuing fake medical certificates to obtain driving licences. Police raided several places and seized driving licences and forged documents needed to obtain licences including medical certificates and application forms. The institute has introduced a new scheme to provide special and genuine medical certificates to drivers," the deputy minister said.

It is reported that most fake medical certificates had been issued to obtain driving licences for light vehicles. The institute has begun issuing new medical certificates for drivers to obtain driving licences for light vehicles, which were not issued earlier.

A new medical certificate with a bar code label and water mark sticker has been designed replacing the old system which is 30-years old. The new medical certificate will only be issued by the NTMI and will prevent frauds. "Once this system is implemented it will prevent persons with health problems driving," he added. Dissanayake said that old medical certificates will be completely withdrawn from circulation within the next two months.

It is reported that around 35 percent drivers have obtained driving licences by producing bogus medical certificates and are responsible for the rise in the number of fatal accidents.

He said the NTMI has also set up new branches in Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Jaffna.