The Hon. K. Kader Masthan

¶ 01 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for permitting me under Standing Order 27(2) to question the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation.

¶ 03 According to the European Commission report of 18 March 2024 on real-world emissions from new passenger cars and vans, there are large discrepancies between actual CO2 emissions and vehicle test certificates. In Sri Lanka, the vehicle emission testing (VET) system should not merely be a revenue tool; it must effectively curb air pollution. Presently, heavy smoke from Government vehicles on the road causes public hardship and respiratory illnesses, particularly among children and school students. Therefore, I ask:

¶ 04 1. Over the past five years, what is the total number of vehicles tested, and what total annual revenue accrued to the contractors, the VET Fund, and to Government?

¶ 05 2. How many private and Government vehicles were tested in 2024?

¶ 06 3. Of total Government vehicles, particularly in the military, police, and public transport, how many vehicles underwent testing in 2024 to obtain the emission certificate?

¶ 07 4. If there are evaluation/review reports on the VET system, what key recommendations have been made to improve it?

¶ 08 5. Has the Government proposed a fee revision for VET? If so, what are the revised fees?

¶ 09 6. With daily road accidents increasing, can a robust mechanism be introduced to assess vehicle condition and roadworthiness?

¶ 10 7. If not, why?