Even though the Government has planned to carry out essential services without disruption, the COVID lockdown has caused transportation issues for certain service providers. Senior state sector officials said the main issue they face is a lack of staff due to the disruption of public transportation. Even though the President has instructed them to carry [...]

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Several essential services hindered as public transport still at a halt

State officials say only few staff members can be called in due to logisitical difficulties
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Even though the Government has planned to carry out essential services without disruption, the COVID lockdown has caused transportation issues for certain service providers.

Senior state sector officials said the main issue they face is a lack of staff due to the disruption of public transportation.

Even though the President has instructed them to carry out essential services without disruption, they are unable to call on their staff as public transportation came to a halt due to the pandemic related lockdown, they said.

Calling staff to work in the office is one of the main problems at the moment, a senior official at the Department of Registration of persons said.

He said even if the authorities come up with a system to provide transport for employees, only a fraction of the staff can be called in as only a few people live in Colombo and the suburban areas.

Meanwhile the Department of Motor Traffic has maintained limited services for the past two weeks. They were able to provide a few services such as correcting irregularities in licences of people flying abroad and working with leasing companies.

Motor Traffic Commissioner General Sumith Alahakoon said they too face staff issues as they are only able to call on a few officials to work by using department vehicles.

He said due to shortage of staff they are unable to carry out services for the public at the moment.

“In April we extended the valid period of licences expiring between April and September 30 for six months via gazette. Now we are preparing the necessary documents to extend the validity of licences expiring six months from October 1,” he said.

He also pointed out that the gazette would be issued under the Minister’s signature to further extend the validity of expiring licences.

Mr Alahakoon said there are about 500 people working in the Narahenpita and Werahera offices, but right now they are only bringing in 80 to 100 staff members to both offices.

“We are awaiting until public transport resumes,to start our normal services, as we are not equipped with online facilities. We have expedited the process of creating such a facility,” he said.

However, as it is required to have biometric data of applicants for driving licences, even if an online system is created applicants will still have to visit the department offices to get their licences, Mr Alahakoon pointed out.

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