A decision made to transfer over 600 employees at the Department of Motor Traffic with immediate effect

COLOMBO (News 1st): More than 600 employees at the Department of Motor Traffic has been transferred with immediate effect. Commissioner-General of the Department of Motor Traffic, Attorney-at-Law Sumith Alahakoon said that apart from himself, only those who joined after 1st January this year will continue to serve that their respective positions. Commissioner-General said that this decision was reached taking into consideration the large number of bribery complaints filed against the employees of the department by the general public. Adding further, the Commissioner-General said this move will come into effect in the future. He said, not obtaining any bribes being at the Department of Motor Traffic is the most difficult thing. "As an example, you can only register the vehicles that are coming legally through the Customs. There are a number of vehicles that come to Sri Lanka without the approval of Sri Lanka Customs. Those vehicles are registered as well. All this is being done in a very organized manner." said the Commissioner-General of the Department of Motor Traffic. He said that this is a mafia comprising of many tiers and that this has been happening for more than 50 years. However, the Commissioner-General said that this transfer might go down in history as the very first time that an A-Grade Department in Sri Lanka, took a revitalizing decision such as this. Meanwhile, people who visited the Department of Motor Traffic to obtain services today had to wait outside the premises as security personnel did not permit them to enter. Sri Lanka Police was deployed to ensure security surrounding the premises as well. According to our correspondents, services at district offices of the Department of Motor Traffic were also suspended today. However, subject Minister Dilum Amunugama, convening a media briefing explained the actions taken by the Government in this regard. He said that the Ministry of Vehicle Regulation and Bus Transport Services has monitored the affairs of the Department of Motor Traffic for the past year. He added saying that, based on the information they have gathered over a year, we have identified a set of people who are unsuitable to work at the Department and that lot will be transferred in the future.