Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Thushara Indunil Fernando has been appointed Commissioner General of Motor Traffic with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The appointment was made on a contract basis, according to a statement issued by the Department of Government Information and reported by NewsFirst. Daily Mirror said Fernando fills a post that was vacant and takes it up with immediate effect.
The appointment followed a proposal submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development — the same ministry whose proposal for Rs. 104.9 billion in Central Expressway link roads went before the same Cabinet meeting.
Neither outlet reported the length of the contract, Fernando’s service record, or when he formally assumes duties.
What the department handles
The Department of Motor Traffic registers vehicles, issues and renews driving licences, and maintains the national vehicle register. It sits at the centre of several policy questions the government is currently working through.
Among them is the licensing regime for public transport drivers, which the department administers — an area under scrutiny as police and the National Transport Medical Institute continue drug screening of bus crews that has returned positive rates near 10%.
The vacancy is one of several senior transport and aviation posts filled in recent weeks. Ranjith Rajasinghe assumed duties as Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority on Tuesday, and Admiral (Retd.) Kanchana Banagoda was named chairman of Airport and Aviation Services the previous day. These are separate bodies under separate mandates.
