May 04, Colombo (LNW): A major push to eliminate entrenched corruption within Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has been unveiled, as Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced sweeping measures aimed at restoring public trust in the institution.
The campaign, framed as a zero-tolerance approach to bribery, signals a determined move by the government to tackle one of the most persistent complaints from citizens seeking routine services such as licensing and vehicle registration.
Central to the initiative is the rapid installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems throughout DMT premises. These surveillance measures, expected to be in place within the coming weeks, are intended to deter illicit transactions between the public and staff, while also providing evidence should misconduct occur.
The minister, addressing the public via social media, urged citizens and honest civil servants alike to unite in rooting out what he described as a “cancer” afflicting the institution.
It's launched!
— Bimal Rathnayake (@BimalRathnayake) May 3, 2025
CCTVs will be also installed within weeks!
Zero Tolerance!
No Bribing!
(at Department of Motor Traffic).
Hope Citizens &Clean officials will fight hand in hand with the Government to eradicate this cancer in DMT within months. pic.twitter.com/WdfyvotKbP
Corruption at the DMT has long been a topic of public frustration, with many accusing officials of demanding under-the-table payments to expedite services that should be delivered freely and fairly.
From issuing driver’s licences to transferring vehicle ownership, routine procedures have reportedly become rife with informal charges, leaving those unwilling to pay at the mercy of endless bureaucratic delays.
By initiating this crackdown, authorities hope to disrupt these entrenched practices and set a new standard for transparency in public service delivery. The minister further noted that this is not merely a cosmetic gesture, but part of a larger institutional reform agenda that includes staff training, internal auditing, and community engagement.
Public response to the announcement has been cautiously optimistic. Advocacy groups and watchdog organisations have welcomed the intervention but remain sceptical about its long-term impact, noting that similar promises in the past have faltered due to weak enforcement and lack of accountability mechanisms.
Some have called for independent oversight to ensure that the surveillance infrastructure is not misused and that real offenders are brought to justice.
The initiative also comes at a time when the government is under pressure to demonstrate tangible improvements in public administration and curb the perception of impunity within state institutions.
With the DMT being one of the most heavily accessed government departments, success here could serve as a model for broader reform across other sectors.
Minister Rathnayake expressed confidence that, with public cooperation and firm political resolve, meaningful change could be achieved within months. He emphasised that citizens themselves play a key role in the transformation, encouraging them to report any misconduct and to refuse participation in corrupt practices, even when faced with inconvenience.
