Previous traffic offences are to be stored in the new smart card driving licence that is to be issued replacing the current licence which is now issued sans an endorsement card.
The Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has already completed 80% of the work needed to implement the new system. The card will cost Rs. 1550 per card and the project will be implemented by Face Technology South Africa in collaboration with a Sri Lankan company named Metropolitan. The contract is in the form of a Build, Operate (BOT) and Transfer agreement where the software and equipment will be provided by the companies.
“We are planning to issue the new driving licence to new applicants first. There are about 30,000 applications per month; right now we issue a temporary driving licence which is valid for a year. But once the system is implemented the applicants will be able to obtain the permanent driving licence within a short period such as seven days” said RMV Commissioner B. Wijeratne.
The new licence will have several features such as personal data, digital signature, finger prints and the individual’s record of traffic offences stored in it.
“We have a Driver Improvement System which is not being implemented right now because we do not have a proper system in place. When we have the new system going we will be able to implement the Driver Improvement System as we will be able to upload the data to the smart card” he said.
With the introduction of the new system the RMV district offices will be able to update details of offences which has been proved in courts entered in the central database. The district branches of the RMV will be linked through a network where the office will be equipped to handle issuing of licences as well as update the central database. The branches in Gampaha, Kegalle, Kandy and Werahera are already linked as a preliminary step. Once the whole system is in place the internal IT division will handle the running of the database. Further every police station will be provided with a hand held terminal (card reader) which will enable them to verify the validity of the licence.
“When an individual has reached his cut off point the individual will be asked to rehabilitate himself by going for knowledge enhancement or retraining. If this does not work the licence will be cancelled,” he said. | 
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