Traffic Management and Road Safety Division

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Vision

To create a safe road devoid of road accidents and traffic congestion.

Mission

Adopting road safety measures Islandwide, to create an environment
where all can travel safely, through collecting statistical records on road accidents, working together with relevant institutions during the implementation of road rules, training officers performing traffic duties, and
raising awareness of students, drivers, and the general public on road safety.

History and Development up to the present

It is reported that a tram car was operated for the first time in Sri Lanka on 01.12.1899. Thereafter in 14.12.1899, a post van was imported to the country and was put into operation. A motor car was imported to the country for the first time in 1902, and a bus in 1906.
Thus, with the beginning of the import of vehicles, there came up a need for the implementation of rules for traffic management.

  • A gazette was published with effect from 01.01.1906.
  • Traffic Ordinance No. 04 of 1916 was drafted and implemented with effect from 01.01.1917, as a result of the need for a set of rules regarding vehicles that came up with the registration of 745 vehicles in Sri Lanka by the year 1909 and up to 4805 vehicles by the year 1911.
  • Before 1951, the Motor Vehicles Regulations and the Police Ordinance were used to implement the law regarding motor vehicles, and the Motor Traffic Act No. 14 of 1951 was formally passed and has been enforced while being amended since that date.

Further, a Motor Vehicle Registration Office was established in 1917 and vehicles were registered.

  • Police officers were deployed at major intersections to control traffic by 1920.
  • A Traffic Unit was established in 1950 in terms of Police Order D-01, and traffic management was carried out in Colombo city.
  • The Traffic Police Headquarters was established on 27.11.1953 under the command of Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Lambruggan in accordance with Police Gazette II No. 5202, dated 11.11.1953.
  • Officers and vehicles of the Traffic Police Headquarters were deployed to perform the escort duty for Queen Elizabeth II who visited Sri Lanka in 1954.
  • A traffic demonstration team was established in 1955, attached to Traffic Headquarters under the leadership of Sub-Inspector of Police, Wijeratne Warakagoda and Police Sergeant Wally Bastian to raise awareness among the public on traffic laws.
  • The first IG’s Traffic Course was successfully conducted for police officers in 1957.
  • Measures have been taken to establish Police Emergency Unit in 1985 in order to manage the increasing traffic congestion in Colombo.
  • Currently, the City Traffic Police and the Police Emergency Service are performing duties as two separate units to manage the traffic congestion in Colombo.
  • The post of Director-Traffic has been created in 1984 to take charge of the Traffic Headquarters, and subsequently, it has been established as a range in 1993 and created the post, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Traffic Management and Road Safety Range.
  • The Junior Traffic Management Course was introduced for Police Sergeants and Constables in 1992.
  • Currently, a Traffic Unit has been established and maintained at every police station, and a Traffic Division has also been established at divisional level to supervise said Traffic Units. The Traffic Management and Road Safety Division, also takes regular measures to monitor and provide instructions on their duties.
Duties of the Traffic Management and Road Safety Division
  • The duties and functions assigned to the Division as per Police Gazettes II No. 5202 dated 11.11.1953 are as follows:
    1. Providing instructions to the relevant Police Divisions in terms of traffic related issues and prepare policies and plans on Traffic management and Road Safety.
    2. Submitting recommendations to the relevant authorities, having conducted inspections and surveys on engineering and other defects in the road system
    3. Conducting traffic demonstrations and seminars for students and the community to create polite and law-abiding drivers and road users.
    4. Planning and implementing traffic management duties and escort duties for state ceremonies, state heads and foreign delegates, VIPs.
    5. Providing required assistance for boards of interview to recruit and promote drivers for ministries and departments.
    6. Providing instructions on behalf of Inspector General of Police, to the respective departments and institutions to conduct discussions and seminars on traffic management and road safety.
    7. Preparing statistical data on fatal road accidents in the country.
    8. Organizing island-wide programs on road safety.
    9. Organizing and providing instructions on traffic management during special events.
    10. Providing instructions to respective Police Stations regarding traffic management and road safety in order to minimize traffic congestion, having conducted surveys on the areas with increasing congestions.
    11. Raising awareness among officers regarding the constantly changing traffic laws and preparing relevant circulars.
    12. Performing inspections on the proper maintenance of books and registers in traffic units, having visited all police stations, and ensuring the proper deployment of officers for their designated traffic duties.
    13. Facilitating national level cycle races and cycle tours with escort services
    14. Training officers of the Inspectors’ Grade in Sri Lanka Police and maintaining relevant training programs.
    15. Conducting Junior Traffic Courses for the ranks of Sergeants and Constables of Sri Lanka Police.
    16. Maintaining a Divisional Store for supplying uniforms and insignia for traffic officers.
    17. Assisting the Inspector General of Police by preparing annual rough estimates for the supply of necessary goods within the Sri Lanka Police in relation to traffic management and road safety.
    18. Implementing all the rules and regulations in relation to motor vehicles within the road network of the country and providing the necessary plans in that regard.
    19. Collection and analysis of all data on traffic accidents occurring in the country, cases filed, etc. and informing the institutions for bringing about good and effective traffic management.

In order to make the above tasks efficient, measures have been taken to perform the duties by dividing into separate sections as, Administration Branch, Education Branch, Law Enforcement Branch, Engineering Branch, Statistic Branch, Logistics Branch, and Transportation Branch.

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