Sri Lanka’s Motor Traffic Department (MTD) is undergoing a major digital transformation to enhance service efficiency, combat corruption, and improve citizen convenience.
This initiative aligns with the government’s broader push for digitalising public services. However, the project faces numerous obstacles, including outdated infrastructure, slow progress, and resistance from corrupt officials.
To streamline operations, the MTD has introduced online services for vehicle registration, license renewals, and fee payments.
Despite these advancements, the digitisation effort, initiated in 2018, has been plagued by procurement delays and administrative inefficiencies. Senior officials attribute these setbacks to bureaucratic red tape within the tender board and delays in procurement, exacerbated by frequent government changes.
One of the key challenges is the outdated system, which has remained unchanged for over two decades. Frequent transfers and retirements of senior officials have resulted in inconsistent decision-making and stalled projects.
Additionally, the system’s infrastructure is inadequate for modern technology, leading to heavy reliance on external vendors, some of whom have abandoned projects due to inefficiencies.
In 2016, the MTD launched a tender for the “e-Motoring” system, aimed at improving vehicle registration and transfer processes.
The project was awarded to a local company in 2018 but has faced repeated delays due to unsuitable office space and administrative bottlenecks. The planned relocation of the department has also been delayed, further hindering progress.
Another major roadblock is internal resistance from corrupt officials benefiting from the outdated system. Allegations of corruption and fraudulent activities have surfaced, leading to investigations by the Bribery Commission and the suspension of several officials. The lack of proper record-keeping and poor organisation of vehicle registration documents has further enabled malpractice.
Despite these difficulties, MTD Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasingha has implemented reforms to improve operations.
The department has started digitising and archiving vehicle registration documents to enhance record-keeping. Instead of relocating, the Commissioner has opted to continue the e-Motoring project from the current Narahenpita office.
Progress has also been made in addressing backlogs. Under the Commissioner’s leadership, the MTD has significantly increased revenue despite restrictions on vehicle imports. Additionally, the backlog of over 950,000 pending driving license applications has been reduced by 95%.
Looking forward, the MTD plans to introduce an e-Driving License system, accessible via mobile phones, and a traffic violation tracking system using demerit points, allowing real-time fine payments.
While full digitisation remains a challenge, these steps mark significant progress toward modernising the department and improving service delivery.
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