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A center to provide charging facilities for three-wheelers and cars that converted to electricity and to convert three-wheelers to electricity was inaugurated by the Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena.

This center established by Vega Innovative Institute on 14th March 2024 in Kollupitiya with the facilities to charge motorcycles, three-wheelers and other electric vehicles with low capacity within a short period and less than one hour will need to fully charge a three-wheeler. It is planned to introduce cashless payment so that customers will be able to make respective payments through a mobile phone application for charging vehicles including three-wheelers.

Also, an office for providing easy financial facilities to electrify three-wheelers that are currently operated by fossil fuel has been operated on this premises in collaboration with Citizen Development Bank (CDB). Hence, customers will have the convenience of converting three-wheelers to electricity within a short period from this institute by obtaining the financial facilities if necessary.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vega Innovative Company, Dr. Harsha Subhasinghe, Chairman of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, officials of Department of Motor Traffic, officials of CDB Financial Institution including the Chief Executive Officer and many others participated for this event.

For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, the Department of Motor Traffic and the National Transport Medical Institute , which are under the Ministry of Transport and Highways, are digitizing the process of reserving relevant dates and times of providing all services to their clients.

Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said that accordingly, from March 4, 2024, without going to the relevant institutions, the clients can visit the website under an automated telephone system and book a service location, date and time for their needs.

To inform the media about the digitization of the Department of Motor Traffic and the National Transport Medical Institute, Engineer Ranjith Ganganath Rubasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, Additional Secretary to the Ministry, Thushara Suraweera, Commissioner of Motor Traffic, Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe, and Mr. Darshana Abeyratne, President of the National Transport Medical Institute attended the press conference held at the Auditorium of the Department of Government Information.

The contribution of the Department of Motor Traffic to the national economy, which is under the main institutions that provide income to the government, is huge. Also, the number of clients who meet the requirements such as getting driver's license and vehicle registration on a daily basis is huge.
As a permanent solution to the overcrowding in an institution like this, under this online appointment booking process, which will cover the branch offices located in the 25 districts of the island, the clients will be given the opportunity to get a more efficient, effective and more transparent service.

Accordingly, the service has been provided in all three languages ​​under the automated telephone number 0112117116 and in addition, the clients can book a date and time through the website www.dmtappoinments.dmt.gov.lk.

At the same time, a new procedure has been introduced from March 4, 2024 to get efficient and quality service by avoiding the difficulties in obtaining the medical certificate required for the driver's license at the Werahera branch of the National Transport Medical Institute. Accordingly, under the e-channeling facilities, the clients are provided with the facility of booking a date and time for obtaining medical certificates by calling 225 from any mobile phone or 1225 from SLT landline or by visiting the e-channeling mobile application or website or www.ntmi.lk website. .

With the implementation of this system, all medical certificate application procedures of the Werahera branch of the National Transport Medical Institute will be processed in this way only.

Construction of the wildlife tunnel under the railway line for the first time in the country was started on 01st March 2024 in Gatadivula-Kasikote of Galgamuwaunder the directions of the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena as the initial step in the national operation to reduce the elephant-train conflict.

This special measure has been taken to prevent getting into danger of wild elephants while crossing this railway lineas per the advice of Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena followed by several discussions with institutions and organizations including the Ministry of Transport and Highways, Sri Lanka Railways, “Surakimu Railway” National Organization.

A policy decision was taken to construct this wildlife tunnel under the Mahawa-Omanthe railway rehabilitation project, which is being done with the financial assistance of Indian Line of Credit, and construction work was officially started today.

Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena who addressed and commented,
"Environmental organizations such as Surakimu Sri Lanka continue to raise their voice under different types of communicating methodsabout the future of this country, the environment, importance of protecting the environment, etc. However, due to various reasons, obstacles arise in the practical implementation of these activities. The Ministry promised to give the maximum contribution to take every possible action when representatives of environmental organizations including Hon. Pahiangala Ananda Thero met us and theypaid attention to the existing problems without agitations etc. Although the officers are not in a position to take action under the prevailing traditional departmental methods of the country. Attempts have taken by forming various committeesto find solutions to the problems for past seventy-six years. As a result, the governments that have emerged in the country have not received enough income for daily basis operations. Based on all facts the numerical truth we should emphasize all the development activities have been done using local or foreign loansregardless of government and the president.

Under that circumstance, an amount of 3000 Crore Rupees has been given to this railway modernization project under the Indian Line of Credit. Although seven ministers were previously in charge of transportsince 2014, but none of them got the ability to start the project. The reason is number of votes would be reduced due to the social unrest due to the closing of rail track for six to seven months for the modernization. Although, as a minister, I do not fear of making decisions.

Therefore, at the first phase of the modernization of this northern railway line, the section from Anuradhapura to Omantai was completed within five months in such a way that trains can travel at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. It is planned to complete the construction of rail line from Maho to Anuradhapura before the upcoming Poson Poya day as the second phase. Then, after 110 years, passengers will have the opportunity to travel from Jaffna at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Accordingly, the travel time from Jaffna to Colombo will be reduced to five and a half hours. Even though the country is in a very difficult situation, I am glad because the funds received as a loan can be utilized for a noble purpose of protecting human and animal lives as well as for improving the living standards of the local residents.

Secretary to the “National Sangha Federation”, Kattakaduwe Sumanarathana Thero, President to the “Surakimu Sri Lanka Foundation”, Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero, Honorable Buddhist Theros, Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Highways, Eng. Ranjith Ganganath Rubasinghe, Parliamentarians, Mr. U. K. Sumith Udukumbura and Mr. Ishaq Rahuman, officials representing Sri Lanka Railways including General Manager, Mr. H. M. K. W. Bandara, representatives of the Indian Ircon Company who is the construction in-charge of this project, heads and officials of CECB, members of “Surakimu Sri Lanka Foundation”, representatives of environmental organizations, government officials including Ambanpola Divisional Secretary, and a large number of local residents participated for the event.

Construction of Sri Lanka's first wildlife tunnel will begin on 01st March 2024 at Kasikota, Galgamuwa, Gatadivula, As a solution to the ever-growing elephant-train clashunder the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Highways.

Number of elephants killed due to the train clashes are increasing day by day, and it has become an environmental and development issue which has attracted national and international attention. Various government and non-government organizations have proposed and implemented many solutions but as a country we are still trying to prevent elephant- train clashes.

The Ministry of Transport and Highways, Sri Lanka Railways, "Save the Railways" national campaign and other institutions and organizations studied the matter comprehensively and "Save the Sri Lanka" organization submitted many proposals to the government to prevent elephant-train collisions. Among them, one of the main proposals was to build a tunnel where the highest number of elephants have been killed during last few yearsdue to train collisions and between 150-200 wild elephants are constantly roaming around the railway line. It was proposed to develop an old culvert near the place as a wildlife tunnel, due to some technical problems, was proposed to construct a new wildlife tunnel at “Alimankada”.

Accordingly, as the first step in the national operation to prevent elephant-train conflict, a policy decision was taken to construct the proposed wildlife tunnel under the Maho-Omanthai Railway Development Project which is implemented by the financial assistance of Indian Line of Credit and necessary arrangements were made to implement the decision. The project will protect lives of about 200 wild elephants, is a commendable step taken for wildlife conservation in Sri Lanka. Apart from this, this project contributes to prevent railway accidents, to protect railway property and to ensure the safety of railway passengers.

A large number of senior officials from the Ministry and affiliated institutions including the Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Bandula Gunawardane,  Secretary Eng. Ranjith Ganganath Rubasinghe will also participate in the inauguration of this national operation.