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Police to nab errant drivers with CCTV data from 01 Feb.

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By Rathindra Kuruwita

The initiative launched by the police to identify traffic offenders through CCTV cameras would come into full force from 01 February, Director – Traffic Administration and Road Safety division, DIG Indika Hapugoda said.

Hapugoda said that the system had been in operation as a pilot project from January 22 to 28 in Colombo. During the pilot phase, no legal action would be taken against the drivers nabbed with the help of CCTV, he added.

“Within the initial 36 hours, we have identified nearly 300 violators of traffic laws. Steps have been taken to inform vehicle owners of the evidence the police possess of their road rule violations. It’s important to note that legal action will not be instituted during this phase. Between January 28 and 31, we will conduct a thorough review of the project to identify weaknesses and determine improvement of strategies. Subsequently, action will be taken against road rule violators from 01 February,” DIG Hapugoda said.

He said that being a traffic policeman was among the most challenging occupations. At the conclusion of 2023, Sri Lanka had registered over 8.3 million motor vehicles of which 4.8 million were motorcycles. Additionally, there were approximately 1.2 million trishaws in the country. “Sri Lanka has an extensive road network spanning around 119,350 km. The country has 607 police stations with dedicated traffic divisions. Complementing these efforts is a robust patrol motorcycle unit comprising 297 high-performance bikes with a capacity of 600CC each. A total of around 9,600 traffic policemen contribute to road safety, with approximately 4,600 actively patrolling at any given moment. Thanks to the diligent efforts of these officers, the incidence of serious motor accidents decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year. The current project is aimed at streamlining and facilitating their demanding responsibilities,” he said.

DIG (Telecom Engineering), Thushara Gamlath said that the entire process was not automated.”Upon detecting a motorist violating a road rule, the procedure involves assigning a specific violation number and extracting the corresponding video footage. Subsequently, another officer is tasked with identifying the owner of the vehicle by utilising the number plate information. Access to the Department of Motor Traffic’s database facilitates obtaining ownership details. Once the necessary information about the particular vehicle owner is ascertained, notices are sent to both the police station where the traffic violation occurred and the nearest police station to the vehicle owner’s address. This entire process is completed within a day,” he said.

Upon discovering a traffic law violation, the vehicle owner is promptly notified. The owner has the option to pay the fine, and once the payment is made, the corresponding police station informs the CCTV division.

If the vehicle owners needed more information, three copies of the footage are obtained and forwarded to the relevant police, accompanied by an affidavit from the vehicle owner. Subsequently, legal action can be instituted under the Evidence (Special Provisions) Act (No. 14 of 1995), if necessary, he said.

Responding to criticisms, particularly from bus owners’ associations urging the police to establish a Bus Priority Lane (BPL) before implementing this system, DIG Hapugoda said despite most Sri Lankan roads having only two-lanes, there were a few designated BPL areas in the country.

Hapugoda said, “There is a functioning BPL from the Polduwa Junction to Lotus Tower, operational between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., as well as from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. However, problems have arisen, such as three-wheeler drivers expressing concerns about their ability to pick up or drop off passengers along the roadside during these periods. Despite these issues, the BPL has proven to be successful. But the entry of trishaws or motorcycles into the bus lane can disrupt the traffic flow.”

Approximately 500,000 vehicles enter the City of Colombo daily, according to DIG Hapugoda. Tragically, around seven individuals lost their lives each day in road accidents, he said.

The introduction of the Easy Cash system would allow individuals to promptly settle fines. Additionally, a de-merit system is in the pipeline for drivers, commencing with an initial allocation of 24 points at the beginning of the year. Points will be deducted for every violation, and if a driver exhausted all 24 points, he or she would face driving restrictions.

DIG Hapugoda highlighted that approximately 10 to 12 percent of vehicles on roads lacked proper documentation; they had open papers. That practice was unlawful, and the CCTV system aims to assist the police in identifying individuals operating vehicles with incomplete paperwork. According to Hapugoda, it is mandatory for a person selling a vehicle to notify the Department of Motor Traffic of the sale within 14 days.

He emphasised that “The new owner is also required to inform the department about the purchase of the vehicle.”

In situations where a vehicle owner has either rented out a vehicle or employed a driver, Hapugoda stressed the owner must be able to provide information about the driver in the event of a traffic law violation.

“Policemen will approach the owner, who is required to identify the person behind the wheel. Subsequently, law enforcement will proceed to locate the individual responsible for the violation,” said.



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US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development

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The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.

The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.

While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball.  The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court.  The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country.  Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.

“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung.  “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”

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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees

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SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.

MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.

“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.

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CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium

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Left to right, Prof. Arosha Adikaram - Chairperson of the Symposium, UAC Obeyesekere – Chief Executive Officer, CIPM Sri Lanka, Guest of Honor - Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer, MAS Holdings PVT Ltd., Sri Lanka, Ken Vijayakumar, President, CIPM Sri Lanka, Priyantha Ranasinghe,Vice President, CIPM Sri Lanka, Col. Saman Jayawickrama (Retd) – Secretary, CIPM Sri Lanka, Dr Dilanjalee Weerathunga – Co Chairperson of the Symposium

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.

Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.

The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.

Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.

The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.

The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.

The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.

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