Vehicle emission tests go North

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa

The Motor Traffic Department has commenced vehicle emission testing in the Northern Province.

Mobile vehicle emission testing services have already begun in the Jaffna city and Vavuniya. Fixed centres would be established in the province at the end of this year, Motor Traffic Commissioner General S.H. Harischandra said yesterday (02).

Earlier, emission testing was not conducted in those areas he said adding that the tests would initially be conducted in the Jaffna district and later in the Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu districts.

The emission test is compulsory for the issue of vehicle licenses.

Harischandra said, "We have commenced the process of finding locations that will act as official testing centres." He added that the process was expected to be completed within the next week.

The companies that qualify to run the tests would be selected by the end of the year, he said.

Nearly 318 vehicle emission testing centres have been established, in the country, so far.

According to the statistics 65 - 70 percent of the city’s air pollution is caused by vehicular emissions. The main air pollutant in Colombo and other suburbs is Particulate Matter from vehicle emissions which could penetrate the lungs and the blood stream.

It has been revealed that the current concentration of Particulate Matter in Colombo is sufficient to cause a 30-35 per cent increase in asthma, cough and bronchitis.

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