The Island:
Many people who go to the Motor Commissioner’s Department in Werahera from the four corners of the island to obtain applications for driving licenses are ill-treated by some staff of the department. While they wait in a queue to pay the cashier the due money with tokens, some department employees issue applications to their ‘catchers’ for money.
An affected applicant told The Island that a large-scale irregularity had been taking place at the Motor Commissioner’s Department. Although applicants from remote areas were in the queue from as early as 6.00 a.m., some corrupt staff of the department were in the habit of issuing applications to their friends and relatives on the sly.
He said that since only 900 tokens are issued per day for the issue of applications, some are disappointed. It was a great injustice meted out to genuine applicants.
Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said that he would deal with the matter immediately because as long as he was the Transport Minister fraud, corruption, irregularities and malpractices under his authority would not be tolerated.
He added that he would hold an immediate inquiry and would not hesitate to take appropriate action against any employee irrespective of caste, creed, religion and rank.