A racket of issuing driving licenses without any exam or trial

Halawatha Police Traffic Division OIC Police Inspector Amila Chandana states that investigations are being conducted regarding an incident where a driver's license was obtained illegally without appearing for the written and practical tests of the Department of Motor Traffic.

This fraudulent act was uncovered after an accident occurred in the Bandarawatta area of Halawatha on the morning of the 21st.

A small lorry traveling from Colombo to Halawatha hit a bicycle traveling in the same direction. The lorry was driven by a 19-year-old youth. The cyclist, who sustained serious injuries in the accident, has been admitted to Halawatha General Hospital. Police have revealed that the accident was caused by the lorry driver falling asleep.

Subsequently, when police officers checked the driver's license of the person driving the lorry, they became suspicious. Upon questioning, it was revealed that the license had been obtained illegally.

Initial investigations revealed that the driver had appeared for the practical test at the Department of Motor Traffic to obtain a driver's license, but failed. Because he desperately needed a driver's license, he paid 35,000 rupees to a person claiming to be from the Department of Motor Traffic and obtained a driver's license without undergoing any tests.

The arrested driver also stated that the money was paid in two installments, 10,000 rupees and 25,000 rupees.

The suspect is a resident of Nugegoda. The accident involved a lorry belonging to a courier company, and the suspect youth had started working for the lorry a few weeks ago. The arrested driver was scheduled to be produced before the Halawatha court.

Police Constables (100711) Vaidyaratne and (9100) Prasad conducted investigations into the incident under the instructions of Police Inspector Amila Chandana, OIC of the Halawatha Police Traffic Division.