Sri Lanka to inspect all public transport vehicles from September

Sri Lanka will launch condition inspections of all vehicles used for public transport, including buses, from September, the National Council for Road Safety said.

Council Chairman Manjula Kularatne said authorities expected to begin the programme by the end of September after recruiting qualified technical officers.

He said driver negligence and mechanical defects were among the main causes of road accidents involving public transport vehicles.

The council decided to inspect all buses and other vehicles used for public transport after considering the safety risks posed by poorly maintained vehicles, Kularatne said.

Authorities have already called for applications to recruit qualified technical officers to conduct the inspections.

Kularatne said the council expected to begin the programme once the recruitment process was completed and would inspect all vehicles operating in the country’s public transport sector.