By The Pulseline News Desk
Motorists issued traffic fines can now make payments through GovPay at the location of the traffic offence, with all police stations across the country equipped to facilitate the digital payment system, police said.
Director of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Range DIG W. P. J. Senadeera said all police stations have been provided with the facilities required to accept traffic fine payments through GovPay.
He said police officers assigned to traffic duties have also been provided with sufficient mobile devices to process GovPay payments and are required to carry the devices when conducting traffic operations.
As a result, motorists should no longer be required to travel to a police station to settle a traffic fine when they are stopped by traffic officers, Senadeera said.
Instead, payments can be made directly at the location using the GovPay system, further expanding the Government’s move towards digitalising public services.
‘Serious offence’ if facilities are claimed unavailable
Senadeera issued a strong warning to traffic officers against directing motorists to police stations on the grounds that GovPay facilities are unavailable.
He said such action would constitute a serious offence by the relevant police officer, as the digital payment facility is now considered a right available to the public.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued the necessary instructions through an RTM to ensure that officers facilitate GovPay payments, he said.
The move is intended to reduce inconvenience to motorists while also making the payment of traffic fines more transparent and efficient.
Demerit points system in the pipeline
Meanwhile, Senadeera said authorities are also preparing to introduce a demerit point system for traffic offences.
Under the proposed system, motorists would accumulate or lose points based on the offences they commit.
The public will be informed of the number of points applicable to each traffic offence once the system is introduced, he said.
The proposed system would add another layer to Sri Lanka’s traffic enforcement framework, moving beyond the existing practice of imposing fines for violations.
Urged to report harassment
Senadeera also urged motorists to immediately report any traffic officer who harasses them or claims that GovPay facilities are unavailable.
The warning comes as the police seek to ensure that the digital payment facility is implemented uniformly across traffic operations.
With GovPay payments now available through traffic officers equipped with mobile devices, motorists are expected to have a quicker and more convenient way of settling fines — while police officers who attempt to circumvent the system could face disciplinary consequences.
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