Officials from the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation have informed the Ministerial Consultative Committee that more than 300,000 driver’s licenses are currently pending issuance. They assured that arrangements are in place to print and distribute these licenses within the next three months.
The officials further revealed that a new driver’s license featuring enhanced security elements will be introduced later this year. All necessary preparations have been completed to procure one million cards required for the printing process.
These updates were shared during the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation meeting held in Parliament on October 9, chaired by Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake.
During the meeting, the Minister directed officials to install printing machines in every province to accelerate the issuance of pending licenses.
The committee also reviewed progress on the issuance of vehicle number plates. Officials stated that the process of selecting a supplier is underway, and issuance will begin once Cabinet approval is granted.
Another key point of discussion was the integrated passenger transport timetable. The Minister emphasized that since it is a policy initiative, steps will be taken to identify gaps and expand the service to additional regions, ensuring a more efficient public transport experience.
Additionally, the committee reviewed a pilot project designed to reduce train-elephant collisions. It was revealed that Rs. 2.8 million will be allocated to install long-range surveillance cameras on trains operating along the Madakalapuwa (Batticaloa) line, enabling better monitoring and accident prevention.
The session also addressed constituency issues raised by Members of Parliament and discussed potential solutions. It was attended by Ministers, State Ministers, MPs, and senior officials.
