The Police Department has purchased 30 advanced speed guns with cutting-edge global technology to identify and prosecute speeding drivers. These devices have been distributed among traffic divisions in 30 police stations across the country.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, Director of the Traffic Headquarters, these speed guns can not only record the speed of a vehicle but also automatically capture images of the driver and the vehicle’s number plate. When a driver is caught speeding, a printed copy of the data, including the date, time, and speed, can be provided on the spot. This advanced laser technology allows clear images to be captured even at night.

SSP Ranagala highlighted that the data recorded by these speed guns eliminates any possibility of false accusations against drivers.

With documented evidence of the driver’s face, the vehicle number, and the exact speed, both officers and drivers are held accountable, leaving no room for disputes.

Previously, basic speed guns were used to catch speeding drivers on regular roads, while high-speed highways had more advanced equipment. The new devices, costing Rs. 91 million, surpass the technology of the existing speed monitoring systems. These laser-based devices, produced in the United States, are specifically designed for nighttime operations, said Police Spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manatunga.

On November 11, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya distributed the new devices to traffic officers at the Police Headquarters. Training sessions have also been initiated for officers to ensure proper use of the equipment. Additionally, the Police Department plans to acquire 15 more speed guns in the near future.

SSP Manatunga further revealed that of the 24,589 road accidents reported in 2024, 731 were caused by speeding. Police filed 31,182 cases related to speeding during the same year. He acknowledged that a significant number of older speed guns were non-functional, making it challenging for traffic officers to enforce speed regulations and minimise accidents.

Before receiving the new devices, each district only had one or two operational speed guns. The National Audit Office reported that since the purchase of 25 speed guns in 2016, no new devices were acquired until the end of 2023. Despite repeated requests for 500 speed guns from 2018 to 2023, only a fraction was approved.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

Several affiliated institutions under the Fisheries Ministry have accumulated a total of Rs. 2.38 billion as legally bound payments and liabilities to various institutions and are currently facing a debt crisis, Ministry sources said.

It is reported that a severe crisis has arisen in those institutions due to the huge amount of debt that exists at the moment.

This staggering debt is owed by affiliated institutions of the Ministry such as the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA), National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation, Cey-Nor Foundation Limited, North Sea Limited and the Peliyagoda Central Fish Market Complex.

The debts should be paid to commercial banks, the Finance Ministry, and several other institutions as of October 31, 2024, according to a Ministry report. According to the report, NAQDA’s outstanding credit as of October 31, last year was Rs. 106.54 million and the amount of legal payments and liabilities including tender deposits, money given for welfare to be settled to the Finance Ministry and withholding money to be paid is Rs. 28.79 million.

The balance of scheduled payments including EPF and ETF to be paid by Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation is Rs 53.36 million.

According to this report, the largest number of legal payments and liabilities is under the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation. The arrears due under the EPF and ETF is Rs.668.7 million.

The Employee Gratuity payable is Rs.25 million. The loan amount obtained from commercial banks is Rs. 158 million. There is also a bank overdraft of Rs. 64 million. The total legal dues and liabilities of the Corporation is close to Rs. 1,530 million.

The Cey-Nor Foundation Limited has accumulated debt to the amount of Rs. 73.72 million and the total amount of liabilities of North Sea Limited is Rs. 114.19 million, including the loan amount of Rs. 152.05 million received from commercial banks and the amount of legal payments is Rs. 525.37 million.

Also the Peliyagoda fish market has taken a loan of Rs. 56.34 million from a commercial bank.

Commenting on this matter, Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage pointed out that the previous governments has left a mountain of debt at the Fisheries Ministry.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the Fisheries Ministry owes a huge amount of debt to a number of institutions and that the debt handed over by the previous governments is like a garbage dump.

The Deputy Minister said that this mountain of debt will be cleared with a proper plan.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

President Anura Kumara Disanayake, during a meeting held yesterday (Jan. 12) at the Presidential Secretariat with representatives from Sri Lanka Customs and port-related service providers, reached several important agreements aimed at resolving the ongoing delays in the clearance of imported containers. 

The President instructed officials to take immediate action to eliminate the delays within the next four days. He also engaged in detailed discussions about the issues faced by state institutions, including Sri Lanka Customs, as well as the challenges encountered by port service providers. While emphasizing the necessity of implementing short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans for port sector development, the President underscored the urgent need for a joint effort by all parties to address the current crisis. As a result, both public and private sector stakeholders agreed to work together towards an immediate resolution.

To expedite the clearance process, Sri Lanka Customs officers agreed to operate continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, a 5-acre plot of land in the Bloemendhal Dissanayake area was allocated for storing containers pending investigation, with plans to release 2 acres by January 31 and the remaining portion by February 28. Addressing the issue of congestion caused by idle container vehicles at port terminals, the government agreed to provide land in the Peliyagoda area for parking these vehicles, thereby easing the traffic at the terminals.

Further, delays caused by regulatory agencies such as the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the Department of Food Commissioner, and the Plant Quarantine Division were highlighted during the discussion. It was revealed that staff shortages in these institutions were a significant factor contributing to the delays. In response, the President directed the relevant authorities to fill these vacancies promptly and to enhance welfare allowances for the officers of these institutions to ensure a more efficient clearance process.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Ratnayake, stated that if there are any financial requirements related to this process, they can be provided by the Ministry of Ports. Additionally, private associations requested the President to take disciplinary action against clerical staff who fail to report for duty on time during the container clearance process. The Minister further emphasized that it is the responsibility of the respective private companies to ensure that their employees report to work promptly.

Importers agreed that food-related products must be accompanied by mandatory certificates issued by foreign laboratories following proper testing, and in the event of any violations, appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with government regulations. A decision was made to reduce the period during which containers can be stored within the port premises without charge to two days. Furthermore, it is anticipated that this period will be further reduced to one day starting from June.
Minister Ratnayake also noted that this expedited clearance process would continue until June 30 and stressed the need for all stakeholders, including the port, customs, and private service providers, to work together as one unified team.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Professor Anil Jayanta Fernando; Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Senior Additional Secretaries to the President, Russell Aponsu and Kapila Perera; officials from Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and Sri Lanka Standards Institution; officers from the Department of Food Commissioner; representatives from the Association of Sri Lankan Shipping Agents, the Association of Container Operators, and the Association of Container Transporters; as well as officers involved in import and export clearance operations.

(President’s Media Division)