Author name: Tharindu Withanage

With the leadership of His Excellency the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the “Rata Ma Ekata” National Operation commenced on 30.10.2025 in the morning at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. Aiming to promote social integration, under the participation of Inspector General of Police (Attorney-at-Law) Priyantha Weerasooriya, stickers were distributed to three-wheeler vehicles around the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on that day.

The 50th workshop in the series of road safety awareness programs conducted by police officers serving at the Colombo Traffic Headquarters covering the entire island in 2025 was held at Mahinda Rajapaksa College on 28.10.2025.  Approximately 1,500 students from 25 surrounding schools participated in the workshop, and officers from the Traffic Headquarters worked to provide knowledge about hand signals used when operating vehicles, knowledge about traffic rules, and the knowledge that school students should be aware of for road safety through practical activities.  Sub-Inspector of Police Dayal Kariyawasam led the keynote address and conducted practical activities, and 150 traffic police students were selected from among the students to act as traffic wardens in front of the schools in the morning to ensure the safety of students.  This time too, with the support of Fair First Insurance Private Company, driver’s uniforms and other school supplies were provided to the students for the workshop.  It is intended that this program will be further conducted island-wide under the leadership of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Traffic and Road Safety Division, Mr. Senadheera, and under the supervision of the Director of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, Mr. SSP Manoj Ranagala. 

The inauguration ceremony for the official launch of the facility to pay traffic fines in the Northern Province through the digital payment system “GovPay,” introduced jointly by the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), and LankaPay, with the objective of enhancing the efficiency of public services, was held under the patronage of the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, on 28.10.2025 at the Kilinochchi District Secretariat. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Northern Province, Mr Thilak C. A. Dhanapala, Deputy Inspector General of Police of Vavuniya Range, Mr Indika Hapugoda, Deputy Inspector General of Police of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, Mr J. A. Chandrasena, and Deputy Inspector General of Police of Jaffna and Kankesanthurai, Mr G. H. Marapana, along with Directors in charge of the six Police Divisions in the Northern Province and over 150 police officers attached to traffic duties, participated in this event. Workshops were conducted in the past three days in the Vavuniya and Kilinochchi Police Divisions, with the participation of more than 400 police officers to provide technical knowledge on the use of GovPay, and the required mobile phones were also distributed to the officers. The Northern Province becomes the third province in Sri Lanka where traffic fines can be paid via GovPay. The payment of fines is already being implemented successfully in the Western and Southern Provinces. Mr Channanda de Silva, Chief Executive Officer of LankaPay stated that a total of 23,539 traffic fine payments have been reported, amounting to approximately 31 million rupees, since the launch of GovPay facility in April 2025. Accordingly, for the purpose of paying the fines through Govpay in the Northern Province as well, you can ask for instructions from the police officer, who gives you the fine slip. After making the payment, you can get your driving license in that instance. We wish to inform you that, if necessary, you may also make payment at a later time by having referred to the instructions on https://govpay.lk/si/spot-fine.

At the invitation of Jetwing Travels (Private) Limited and under the instructions of the Inspector General of Police, an awareness workshop on tourist safety was held on the morning of October 28, 2025, at the Jetwing Travels head office. The program was organized as part of the Police Department’s ongoing initiative to educate local workers involved in the tourism industry on safety precautions and appropriate responses in the event of any safety issue affecting tourists receiving their services. Moreover the Director of the Police Media Division and Police Media Spokesperson, Mr. F.U. Wootler, who delivered a comprehensive lecture on legal measures that can be taken to ensure tourist safety. He also discussed several recent incidents related to safety concerns in the tourism sector. The session provided valuable awareness and guidance to tourism professionals and workers, including tour guides, vehicle suppliers, drivers, hoteliers, restaurant operators, and communication staff, who offer services under Jetwing Travels. Through such programs, the Police aim to strengthen cooperation with the tourism industry and enhance Sri Lanka’s image as a safe and welcoming destination for travelers.