Sri Lanka: The rise in vehicle numbers

We reported yesterday that 150,000 more vehicles have flooded our roads in the in the first half of this year. According to the Department of Motor Traffic this amounts to a 14,000 increase compared to the corresponding period in 2006.

…While the Government may take pride in this distinction attached to the country it would do well to take cognisance of the downside of this whole development.


It is clear that the country is in the throes of an energy crisis compounded by the rise in world oil prices and the addition of 150,000 fuel guzzling vehicles into the existing volume – and within six months at that – is not a very pleasing prospect.

It was only the other day that we editorially commented on the drastic measures that need to be taken to save the country