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With 103 CCTVs eyeing motorists on Colombo roads, drivers think twice before breaking rules
View(s):- A system to pay traffic fines online also on the cards
By Dilushi Wijesinghe
In the busy streets of Colombo, where tuk-tuks and motorcycles weave through chaotic traffic, a quiet transformation is taking shape.
At the centre of this system is the CCTV Division of the Police. With 103 high-resolution cameras strategically positioned across 33 key locations in Colombo, providing a 360-degree view of the city under constant surveillance, every wrong lane change, stop-line crossed, and red light ignored is captured in real-time. In a new move discussions are also underway to do away with long queues and paperwork to pay traffic fines with an online system, promising to streamline the process, allowing traffic offenders to settle their fines with just a few clicks.
Monitoring in progress at the CCTV Division of the Police. Pix by Indika Handuwala
“The cameras have made drivers think twice before breaking the rules,” says CCTV Division’s, OIC Chief Inspector Lasantha Ekanayaka. “It’s not just about penalising offenders; it’s about fostering a culture of responsible driving,” he says.
Since its launch on February 1, last year the system has been operating 24/7, with manual oversight ensuring accuracy. Data is securely transmitted through SLT fiber optic cables, protected by a robust firewall. Every violation detected is shared across all 406 police stations in the country.
In addition to the fixed cameras, two mobile vans patrol the streets daily, capturing offenses including the usage of mobile phones while driving.
Chief Inspector Lasantha Ekanayaka
“The vehicle owner is ultimately responsible,” the CI says. “Whether it’s a local or a tourist, it is the owner’s responsibility to either pay the fine or produce the driver.” Tourists tend to violate road rules far less frequently than locals, the CI says.
Last year, over 12,000 cases were inquired into, and 900 offenses have already been recorded for this month.
During a visit to the monitoring centre, the CI demonstrated how the system works. On the screen, a tuk-tuk driver was caught violating road markings on Armor Barber Street.
The recorded footage is sent to each police station across the island, and the vehicle registered is identified under the respective police area. The OIC of the respective station will then inform the registered owner of the vehicle of the offence committed. The extracted recording will then be presented to courts.
A 446-million-rupee proposal presented to the cabinet by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) T.P. Gamlath through Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya aims to expand and digitalise the system further, increasing the number of cameras to 500. “If approved by the cabinet, we can take road safety to the next level,” the CI says.
Beyond enforcement, the system also serves as a tool for accountability. The CI notes that it helps curb police corruption, such as the acceptance of bribes, and ensures the law is applied equally to all. “Drivers are becoming more disciplined as well,” he adds.
However, maintaining the system remains a challenge. Third-party service costs are high, and spare parts are often scarce, posing obstacles to its long-term sustainability, he said.
Prima Management Services (Pvt) Ltd introduced the ‘Traffic Violation Management Software’ to the Police on January 21 to enhance the monitoring of traffic violations.
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