Speedy new process for drivers license medicals.

Special units to be established within 150 base and district hospitals capable of issuing medical certificates for driving license, the Cabinet has decided.

The National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI), currently the only body issuing the certificates, will create a standard process for hospitals to conduct the test. The move comes following the recent instructions of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The cabinet paper, submitted by the Minister of Transport Service Management, aims to streamline the process for obtaining a driving license for light vehicles.

On January 27th the NTMI introduced an online system with SMS notification for booking appointments for the medical tests (available from the official website www.ntmi.lk), and the Transport Ministry announced a mobile app would soon be available for the same purpose.

The Cabinet intends to expand the process to more hospitals in the future and hopes these measures will reduce inconvenience the public faces due to the congestion at the NTMI premises in Nugegoda, especially for those from outstations who previously had to travel to Colombo multiple times to complete the process.