The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, transport is a sector that greatly affects people and development. I am pleased to speak as regulations are presented under the Motor Traffic Act. Although we often disagree with the Leader of the House, after his speech today I must say the new transport laws and amendments are, in our view, good and timely.

¶ 02 We must not forget that over the centuries Sri Lanka developed a transport and road system — from footpaths, gravel, tar and carpet roads to expressways — and vehicles evolved from bullock carts to electric cars. We must respect policymakers and workers across history; without due respect to history, a nation cannot sustain its present or future. On that basis, solving current problems is the Government’s responsibility, and introducing new laws is a responsibility of all parties here.

¶ 03 Making seat belts mandatory for back-seat passengers on expressways is timely. Introducing new laws against drunk driving is also timely. Accidents are now a leading cause of loss of life; this cannot be treated lightly. We saw the public discourse and confusion when earlier laws were enforced — allegations of “monetizing” enforcement, lack of breathalyzers at stations, and subsequent Police backtracking. Hence, this is a vital subject.

¶ 04 The Government launched “Clean Sri Lanka” with fanfare — tearing down stickers on buses and three-wheelers. But today policy clarity is lacking; people still ask what the exact law is, and on the road it does not appear robustly enforced.

¶ 05 Another current issue: some private hire vehicles operate via app-based platforms while others operate independently. In tourist zones disputes arise between the two. The Government must mediate swiftly to provide a fair solution to both groups who claim they supported the “country first” effort.

¶ 06 There is also the long-standing issue of number plates for new vehicles and motorcycles. In Hansard of 26 September 2025 (col. 1247), Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said: “We think we can issue number plates by 15 November.” He further said a temporary solution would commence the following week. However, even past 15 November and now into January, the number-plate issue remains unresolved.

¶ 07 In the Budget speech, the President announced allocations — Rs. 67,200 million to strengthen transport services, importing 600 long-distance buses, and five new diesel multiple units. Now that 2026 has begun, we expect timely tenders and optimal value for money.

¶ 08 This Government’s actions trail behind its rhetoric. The President asked whether a plane landing at Mattala is even news, yet Ministers danced at the reopening of a small repaired railway station after a disaster — the public dubbed it “Hansa Wannama.” If Ministers danced at grand historic projects, today “Channa Wannama” would be more popular than traditional dances.

¶ 09 On transport, the critical issue is the frequency of fatal road accidents — numerous lives lost and many injured or disabled. As the Minister acknowledged, road accidents are now the leading cause of accidental deaths annually. We must cultivate drivers who value their own and others’ lives. New laws for school transport are good. For the safety of passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and children, these laws are necessary, even if initially unpopular.

¶ 10 Finally, in rural areas after the recent storms, some bus services are still not operating; even previously running routes have stopped. Many raise this at coordination committees. Please attend to this urgently. Transport is like a country’s circulatory system — during the pandemic, when the country was locked down, we learned what happens when that system stops. Efficient transport moves the village economy to the city and vice versa. Though delayed, today’s laws are needed; we support them. We urge swift implementation of the Minister’s additional plans to reduce fatal accidents.

¶ 11 Thank you for the extra minutes, Hon. Deputy Speaker.