Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana instructed Transport Ministry officials and other related institutions, to urgently examine the facts and submit a report containing recommendations in order to prepare a proper system for the legal registration of high-capacity (engine capacity above 450cc) motorcycles that are not legally registered in Sri Lanka.
On several previous occasions, in accordance with a request made by the owners of high-capacity motorcycles in Sri Lanka from the Minister, in coordination with the former Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Minister Gunawardhana presented a Cabinet Paper on the registration of such high-capacity motorcycles, which have not been registered and brought to Sri Lanka through various methods. A committee consisting of senior officials from the Transport, Ministry of Defence and Finance Ministries, the Attorney General’s Department, the Motor Transport Commissioner Department and the Police Department and other institutions has been appointed to formulate recommendations.
The Minister instructed the relevant committee, to discuss and provide recommendations within the next few weeks for registration of such high capacity motorcycles only which are about 5,000 existing in the country under strict rules and regulations, paying attention to the rules and regulations of the occasions given for the registration of such high-capacity motorcycles on several previous occasions, so as not to set a precedent for the future.
Minister Gunawardhana pointed out that especially due to the weaknesses in the imposition and implementation of the rules and regulations of various Government institutions, not only motorcycles but also a large number of goods are entering the country illegally through various methods, and a proper system in this regard is an urgent need, taking into account the rules and regulations used in other countries in the region.
It was revealed during this discussion that about 5,000 high-capacity motorcycles brought to Sri Lanka in different periods, in different ways, are currently in the possession of various people across the country.
However, a request was made by the high-capacity motorcycle owners to allow these motorcycles that have been brought to Sri Lanka previously without paying any taxes to be registered after paying the relevant taxes and fees under the conditions set by the government.
Former Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena pointed out that through this, the Government will be able to get a large amount of tax revenue, and at a time when the Motor Transport Commissioner Department is also working to register motorcycles with engine capacity exceeding 1,000cc in the future, by registering motorcycles that are currently kept without legal documents, proper regulations can be made related to accusations levelled at various crimes being committed using these high powered motorcycles.
Accordingly, the Minister instructed the officers to prepare a final report after examining the existing legal situation and making recommendations for amendments to the necessary ordinances under the existing legal provisions in order to approve the registration of these motorcycles.
MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena, officials from the Transport Ministry, Defence Ministry, Attorney General’s Department, Motor Transport Commissioner, Police Department, Ministry of Finance and a group of high capacity motorcycle owners participated in this discussion.
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