It is reported that private hospitals in the country are currently using many ambulances that are not registered with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT).
‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ learns that the ambulance service of the International Medical Care in Maharagama (IMC) or RSK CARE is using unregistered ambulances.
Upon inquiring from its owner – Mr. Ranjith Susantha Karunaratne, he said that the company has one ambulance registered with the DMT as well as 02 unregistered ones.
He said that documentation has begun to register one of the 02 unregistered ambulances.
He further said:
“We have the largest number of original ambulances…most ambulances in Sri Lanka are converted and unregistered. We have 08 ambulances with LW-numbers…”
In the meantime, Mr. Karunaratne said that they had also taken over two ambulances owned by Rev. Elle Gunawansa Thero, on a long term basis.
He also claimed to have bought an ambulance (LW-0485) belonging to a Buddhist monk in Matara while entering into a pact to obtain another ambulance (LW-0188) owned by the same monk.
Mr. Karunaratne also added that 02 ambulances of the IMC have been seized by the leasing companies. One has been recovered while the other remains unrecovered due to a high monetary amount which is required to be paid to release the vehicle.
Unregistered ambulances at St. John Ambulance Service
‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ also discovered that the St. John Ambulance Service also has an ambulance that is not registered with the DMT.
Upon contacting the service’s commissioner – Dr. Nilam, he said that there was no such unregistered ambulance and said that keeping such an ambulance would not be legit.
However, when inquiring from the Colombo District Commissioner of St. John’s Ambulance Service, Mr. M.D.P.D. Senanayake, who is said to be in charge of the said ambulance, said that although they do actually have an unregistered ambulance, it is not being used to transport patients.
Instead, it is used for training purposes, he said.
However, it was reported that the ambulance in question was used to transport students who were injured during school rugby matches during the last season.
Also, it is reported that this ambulance is currently at the house of an additional district commissioner of St. John Ambulance Service, with his father working as the driver.
Meanwhile, it is also reported that several private ambulance services including Roanim, Royal and King’s also have unregistered ambulances.
