'Green Drive Concept' launched in Sri Lanka: State Minister

COLOMBO (News 1st): The National Programme launched under the 'Green Drive Concept' with the aim of planting a tree per each vehicle including buses, commenced on Friday (Mar. 05), the State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry said. This initiative was launched in order to promote the 'Green Drive Concept' in line with the International Transportation Day, which is celebrated on the 1st Saturday of March every year. "The programme could enhance the absorption process of Carbon Dioxide, ensuring the quality of air in the country," Dilum Amunugama, the State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry told News 1st on Friday (Mar. 05). According to State Minister Amunugama, the Department of Motor Traffic will launch the programme to provide a plant for every vehicle registered at the department or transferred. Thereby, the respective owners can plant the provided sapling at their residence or elsewhere, he noted. "In the event the owners do not have adequate space in their home gardens to plant the saplings, the Department of Motor Traffic will plant it beside the road at any given location and share the GPS coordinates of the plant with the respective owner. They could then check the state of the tree, planted in respect of their vehicle," State Minister Amunugama elaborated. Furthermore, through the mediation of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), trees will be planted according to the number of SLTB buses operating at each depot; the drivers and conductors are required to ensure the growth of the trees that will be planted bearing the vehicle plate number of the respective bus. Moreover, the National Transport Commission will ensure that plants are provided across the country for those with inter-provincial road permits, State Minisiter Dilum Amunugama further noted.