– Legal provisions will be introduced to make vehicle fitness tests mandatory for passenger transport vehicles, with the aim of ensuring passenger safety, Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic Vice Marshal (Retd.) Thushara Idunil Fernando said.

He said passenger transport vehicles would be required to undergo a full service every 5,000 kilometres or within a period of three months as part of measures to improve roadworthiness and passenger safety.The required vehicle fitness tests will have to be conducted at registered garages, with the maximum charge for the test set at Rs. 2,000, he said.Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved a proposal to present the Motor Vehicles (Inspection) Regulations No. 03 of 2026 to Parliament for approval, introducing a formal system to test the roadworthiness of vehicles used for passenger transport and other special services.

The importance of such inspections has been highlighted by recent roadworthiness tests. During inspections conducted on 136 passenger buses at Bastian Mawatha recently, prohibitory orders were issued against two buses, while 107 buses were issued maintenance orders after being found unsuitable for operation on the road. Roadworthiness inspections were also conducted in the Kilinochchi District on September 7. Of the 103 vehicles inspected, 31 were issued maintenance orders after being found unsuitable for use on the road.Officials stressed that regular vehicle inspections and maintenance are essential to ensure that passenger transport vehicles operating on public roads are safe and roadworthy.