I had to go to the Department of Motor Traffic, in Narahenpita, Colombo 5, to register the transfer of ownership of a vehicle.
I had with me a printout of the application forms I had downloaded from the department’s website.
However, on arrival at the department, I discovered to my great annoyance that the website had not given the full particulars.
It said nothing about bringing a photocopy of your national identity card.
The two officers (a man and a woman) issuing application forms could not answer even simple questions.
We were directed to another room that was packed, with long queues at each counter and people seated and waiting.
The staff were courteous and efficient, but one had to feel sorry for the dozens of people waiting hours to get a simple piece of documentation done.
I left the building in disgust, without completing what I had come there to do.
The Registrar General’s Department is doing a great job.
It has gone tech and has computers, scanners, photocopiers, etc. This office can issue a copy of a birth certificate in just half an hour.
Why can’t the Department of Motor Traffic, the Registry of Motor Vehicles and other government departments be like the Registrar General’s Department?
What an efficient system we’ll have then, something we can be proud of.
The last Minister of Transport talked big during his time in office, and did little or nothing to improve basic services.
Let’s hope the new minister will do a better job.
Deshapriya Rajapaksha,
Battaramulla |
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