• Transport don Prof. Amal Kumarage emphasises need for transport sector decision-making to be rooted within the transport policy framework so that SL is not bankrupted 

Sri Lanka’s transport sector has been in need of major reforms for some time, while the prevailing economic situation has intensified the need. However, this is not a mere matter of having more resources or taking new initiatives. Reforming this sector is equally about getting rid of detrimental practices and mindsets that have kept the transport sector in such a state for a long time.

According to the University of Moratuwa’s Transport and Logistics Management Department’s Prof. Amal S. Kumarage, one of the pressing priorities concerning Sri Lanka’s transport sector is taking transport sector-related decisions in accordance with the existing transport policy. Without adherence to the policy, he stressed, the country cannot expect positive changes in the sector.

He made these remarks during an interview with The Daily Morning. 

Below are excerpts from the interview:

Given the state of the economy, Sri Lanka has reduced its expenditure on road safety and related issues compared to its previous capacity. Can this situation have an impact on road safety?

The reasons behind today’s road safety issues are diverse. Among them are the composition of our vehicles, the manner in which our roads have been built, and the enforcement of traffic laws. Even when we were in a position to allocate more money, compared to other expenses, the amount of money we borrowed, spent, or allocated on road safety was not really sufficient. I don’t think that the current situation makes any considerable difference. We didn’t spend money on road safety even when we had the ability, and not being able to spend money on the same today is not surprising. Road safety is a priority, and therefore, it should be funded regardless of the economy’s situation.

One of the common concerns regarding the road safety situation in Sri Lanka, including accidents, especially among the general public, is that Indian-made buses are not up to safety standards. This has gained considerable attention on social media. What is your opinion about this?

Before we touch on the claim that buses do not meet safety standards and that it has increased accidents, we need to pay attention to inadequacies in the operation, administration, and regulation of buses. The unsafe situation surrounding buses stems from buses speeding, buses overloading, and appointing drivers to drive buses without being subjected to proper regulation. 

It is true that the higher the quality of a bus the higher the safety we can expect. But there are a number of other factors that are more important when it comes to safety. Regardless of the country of manufacture, every country has buses that adhere to higher safety standards. What we import today are the most inexpensive buses. We have not set proper standards. If we set adequate standards, every country has buses that meet the standards. Not ensuring the proper operation of buses is a flaw on our part.

With increased transport costs, more people can be seen using public transport methods. Safety is a big concern in this sector too. What reforms in the sector should we prioritise?

Irrespective of the present situation, even under favourable circumstances, our public transport sector should have been maintained in a better manner. Given the population in the country, at least 50% of transport needs should be fulfilled by the public sector. However, we have assigned an undue value to private transport methods. At the same time, we have allowed the idea that public transport is the poor man’s service, and that we should therefore get rid of it, and that we should instead import more private vehicles, as that gives us the status of a developed country. This erroneous idea has spread in the country, while ill-informed and meaningless political discourses also play a role in this. 

We don’t follow a transport policy that suits the country, and in fact, it is one of the reasons for the state of the economy. We spend billions to import vehicles and fuel and to build roads, and these expenses have increased. For a country like ours that has no fossil fuel or a vehicle industry, and has to take loans to build roads, the existing transport policy is one that bankrupts us. If we don’t understand the gravity of the situation at least now, when the transport policy has contributed to bankrupting the country, the same thing happening to the country is inevitable.

In your opinion, how can the country’s transport policy improve?

First of all, we are not a country that respects policies, nor are we a country that adheres to policies. Sometimes, we draft various documents calling them policies, get approval for them from certain places, and publicise them in certain places. When I analysed the extent to which we have implemented the existing transport policy of 2009, to which I also contributed during the past 14 years, it was understood that only 3% has been implemented. Around 2% has been implemented in part. That is the situation even after almost 15 years of introducing the transport policy. During that period, there were Transport Ministers, we launched various projects, and we took loans. But, none of what we did was in accordance with the policy, and what was in the policy was not implemented. 

This is how we are trying to run a country. I have not heard of countries that achieved development without policies. We are trying to achieve it by doing what we feel like doing from time to time. Transport is also a sector that faced the same fate.

Sri Lanka is in the process of reforming a number of laws. What is your opinion about the necessity to reform motor traffic laws? If you think that they should be removed, how do you think it should materialise?

In any country, with technological advancements, motor traffic laws should also change from time to time. It is something that needs to take place every year. This process needs to take into account, among other factors, the vehicles’ quality, matters relating to new relevant technologies, and social issues and developments. The weakest aspect of our Motor Traffic Act is the fact that it is being enforced with the idea of establishing the rule of law. 

For example, traffic police officers hide near roads to catch those who violate motor traffic laws. But, more than monitoring whether the written law is being violated, what the Police should actually prioritise is increasing road safety or reducing road risks. These are two different matters. They are legally allowed to wait near a place where motor traffic laws are being frequently violated and to fine offenders. But, I am not sure whether it contributes to identifying those who truly do not care about the laws in general. 

Today, a fear of the law has been instilled. That approach fails to build respect towards the law or promote the idea that these laws are being enforced for the people’s safety. That is one difference between the traffic laws in Sri Lanka and abroad. Due to the feeling that the enforcement of the law here is unfair, many don’t respect the law, and on the contrary, road risks don’t get addressed. The Act needs to amended. But, the enforcement of the motor traffic laws needs to be completely changed and needs to be the priority. What is important is not bringing in more laws to allow Police officers to find drivers, but, establishing respect for motor traffic laws.