70
Police officers have reported that many traffic speed measuring devices used to detect those who drive at excessive speeds are currently detective. This has made it difficult to apprehend drivers who break speed limits.
A senior Police officer mentioned that there are only one or two functional speed measuring devices available per district.The National Audit Office highlighted that since purchasing 25 speed measuring devices for the Sri Lanka Police in 2016, no additional devices have been acquired. Despite requests for 500 speed measuring devices between 2018 and 2023, none have been purchased.
Excessive speeding is a major cause of road accidents, yet the Sri Lanka Police have not taken steps to acquire the necessary equipment to minimise this risk, as emphasised by the National Audit Office.
A senior officer from the Traffic Division noted that while each Police station does not have a speed measuring device, there is a pressing need for at least one device per Police division. Efforts are underway to purchase at least 50 speed measuring devices to meet this need.
Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe
