The second phase of the pilot project to provide light vehicle driving licenses to hearing and speech impaired persons started in Kurunegala recently.
About 250 people participated in this event, out of which 160 people passed the tests to obtain driving licenses. Temporary driving license (light vehicles) was given to them.
State Minister for Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna, State Minister for Agriculture DB Herath, North West Province Chief Secretary Ariyaratne, Kurunegala District Secretary, Motor Transport Commissioner Nishanka Anuruddha Weerasinghe, National Transport Medical Institute President Darshan Abeyratne, Central Federation of the Deaf President Brian Priyantha A group of people participated.
The first phase of this project was conducted as a pilot project in Gampaha district. Based on the success of that project, approval was obtained to provide this for people with special needs (speech difficulties) all over the island.
The Central Association of the Deaf, the Department of Motor Transport, the National Institute of Transport Medicine, the National Road Safety Council, the Eye, E.N.T Specialists Association and the Sri Lanka Police actively intervened in these tasks.