President calls for report on VIP vehicles violating road rules

President Maithripala Sirisena said that he has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to hand over a weekly report to him about the VIP vehicles breaking road rules.

Addressing at the ‘Parissamin Gihin Enna’ (travel safely) National Road Safety Program, held today at the Independence Square he said after the report submitted to him, he will look into the matter personally.

"We discussed at the cabinet meeting about the vehicles of the powerful persons which are driven on roads in a reckless manner, and with escorts, even though the fear of terrorists has ended. We should discuss whether the people who travel by those vehicles really are important persons. We discussed about the ways to take legal actions against them”, he said.

He said that the people should not be against the actions taken by the government to protect the laws on road safety as the health sector spends a large amount of money for the health services for accident victims. “It is harmful for the development of the country”, he said.

“The examples on the laws on road safety should be given from top to bottom. The people from all sectors should help to make these kinds of programs successful”, he pointed out.

He also pointed out that the main reason for the road traffic is the delays in development of the public transport service. “The government will be committed to strengthen the public transport service”, he added.

“The people of this country are aware of the laws on road safety but they do not follow them. Pedestrians as well as drivers should follow those laws.

President Sirisena presented a cheque worth Rs. 10 million to the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation for the program sponsored by the SLRC to promote the national road safety, covering all districts.