New vehicle number plate backlog needs to be addressed with speed

According to data released this week, Sri Lanka’s vehicle registrations rose to a record high in January, driven by a strong demand for two-wheelers and a steady expansion in the secondary market. Total registrations climbed to 55,365 units in January, up from 48,525 units in December, according to JB Securities, with two-wheelers accounting for 64% of the market.

Amidst this, the long delay to award a contract to manufacture Sri Lanka’s new vehicle number plates has led to a backlog of unissued plates which have pushed beyond 200,000 vehicles. Due to these new vehicles on the road use their own personalised number plates using the registration number given by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). The failure to award a contract after more than a year exposes the ability of this Government to act decisively and  promptly on important decisions.

When the NPP was elected more than a year ago, the new Government went ahead and cancelled many of the old contracts awarded by the previous administration citing irregularities/corruption etc. This happened in fields including medical procurement, number plates etc. But in turn there has been a delay in awarding fresh tenders which in the medical field has led to many shortages and likewise the number plate issues with new vehicle owners unable to get an official number of plates.

It is understandable a new Government in power would want to review old contrasts without continuing and go for new ones, but it is important to ensure smooth transition in such cases. One can’t cancel all the existing contacts without choosing a new contractor to deliver. Also having built up a façade that previous contracts were not awarded to the lowest bidder, those in power are now left to deal with a scenario that the lowest bidder is not always able to deliver goods and services according to the set standards and on a timely basis.

It is possible the Government is also keen to reward some of its financiers by awarding them lucrative contracts which has been the practice in the past. This Government too stands accused of such favouritism. Some contracts awarded by this Government have had to be cancelled after they were exposed in the media as being done outside the guidelines.

Take the case of the recent coal tender which has been exposed as corrupt. The Cabinet has given the go-ahead for the emergency purchase of coal for the Lak Vijaya power plant after coal stocks purchased from South Africa failed a quality test. This by a Government when in Opposition was shouting from rooftops against emergency/spot purchases of coal stating that they were corrupt transactions. But they now defend such actions when all evidence so far shows that the manner in which the coal tender was awarded was in violation of the stipulated guidelines and is questionable.

While the Government is delaying the awarding of the tender for the  issuing permanent number plates, it has awarded contracts for many other fields while neglecting this vital area. The number plate issuing  delay is a serious matter when it comes to the security of the  country. It is very possible that any unscrupulous person may use a fraudulent vehicle registration number on the number plate and use it for criminal activities and get away leaving the Police with few clues to who the vehicle’s owner is. Hence the Government must look at these issues seriously and take measures to issue number plates and to clear the massive backlog.