7 September 2023 08:24 pm Views - 811
Sixty percent of the total vehicle fleet in the country cause air pollution due to their emissions, Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) Chief Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe said.
He said the DMT has registered a total fleet of eight million vehicles in the country.
Therefore, as a result of a joint programme, the DMT, the Transport Ministry, and Environment Ministry launched the vehicle emission test programme around the country ten years ago. It has been a success, he said.
"Following information received by the DMT after the emmission tests, 20 percent of the vehicles are not roadworthy as they were identified as unsuitable for use. If those vehicles run on the roads, there is a possibility of a higher percentage of air pollution," the Commissioner General said.
A programme was held in front of the Transport Ministry at Battaramulla to commemorate the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies with the patronage of the State Minister of Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe and several other officials.
With the emmission tests conducted around the country, the air pollution has been controlled, and if not, the air quality of the country would be very unhealthy.
Therefore, a decision has been taken to undergo emission tests on all vehicles, including state vehicles, for the sake of clean and breathable air. It was also said that it has become compulsory to undergo emission tests on Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses as well. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)
Pix by Kithsiri de Mel