• Same should be recorded in reg. book; bus owners advise drivers to remove injurious accessories

The Police reiterated that modifications and decorations to three-wheelers are only permitted if they adhere to the guidelines approved by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). 

Deputy Inspector General of Police for Traffic Control and Road Safety Indika Hapugoda emphasised that any alterations to a three-wheeler must be recorded in the vehicle’s registration book without altering its original model. “This allows Police officers to easily verify approved modifications through the DMT, ensuring compliance and revenue for the Government,” he stated.  

The DMT has been authorising specific modifications to three-wheelers since 7 July 2023, based on criteria developed in response to requests from three-wheeler associations and the general public, Hapugoda noted.

The drivers have been given a grace period until 19 January 2025, to remove unauthorised installations, including sirens, coloured lights, loud horns, and other modifications deemed illegal.  

To raise awareness, the Police Headquarters has launched a pilot project from 5-19 January, aimed at educating drivers and the public on the legal requirements. During this period, no punitive actions will be taken, but the offenders will be issued warnings. After the grace period, a special traffic operation will be enforced under the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ national initiative. 

The Acting Inspector General of Police has instructed traffic officers to focus on vehicles with dangerous and unlawful modifications. The Police urged all three-wheeler drivers to comply with these regulations before 19 January to avoid penalties. The initiative aims to ensure road safety while maintaining the aesthetic and functional integrity of vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) advised bus drivers to remove accessories from buses that may cause injuries to road users following reports of the Police inspection of buses.

“Certain accessories, such as large mirrors, that drivers have, often cause injuries to other road users by knocking into them or scratching them,” the Association’s President Gemunu Wijeratne told The Daily Morning yesterday (6). “Therefore, I advise drivers to remove anything that may risk harm to road users."

This follows reports of Police inspections of buses in which several accessories, including stickers that may inhibit the driver’s vision of the road, were ordered to be removed. It was reported that the Hatton Police has initiated legal action against 12 bus drivers with accessories that posed risks to both bus passengers and road users. Reports state that among the prohibited accessories were horns that were deemed to produce excessive noise and additional lights that were deemed unsafe.

The inspection of buses started on 2 January as a part of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative. A Court ordered the removal of the hazardous items, and the buses must be presented for re-inspection within seven days of the said court directive.

It was also reported that several other bus drivers faced legal action for operating without valid permits.