Le Sabre

I guess the law will apply to all vehicles. The 3 wheelers and busses might get away with it but iam sure it will be implemented for all other vehicles. Not sure if the passengers in the back seat also will have to put on the seat belt. I guess thats why they decided to delay the law and hope the cops give us all the related info to us drivers before the law goes into use.

The implementation of the seat belt law has been delayed by around two months to give time to users of older vehicles which do not have the facility to get them fitted, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma told the Sunday Times. He said the Government has made all arrangements to implement the law, in keeping with safety standards, but there has been some discussion on how to implement the law without causing inconvenience to owners of older vehicles which do not have seat belts. He said a gazette notification specifying the implementation of the law would be issued within the next two months and thereafter the police will be able to go ahead to enforce the law. Mr. Alahapperuma said that except in some small countries seat belt laws are being implemented worldwide and therefore Sri Lanka too is working towards implementing the law which would provide improved safety to the driver and the passengers. “We are requesting that those vehicles which do not have seat belts be fitted with them before the law is implemented,” he said. He said that police could use the next two months to educate the public on the wearing of the seat belts. Under the law fines between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000 could be imposed for the first offence, Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000 for the second offence and between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 4,000 for the third offence.

I would like to change my old number on my car to an English number plate. Whats the procedure for that and is it possible to do the change. What series would i be able to get. Any info would help.

Thanks for the info. How are the current prices for the CK and the CS models.

I am looking into getting some info on the Mitsubishi Lancer CK1, CK2 and CS1 ,CS2 models. Whats the difference in these models. Hows the resale value and the cost of spare parts and its performance as well. These models are YOM 2000 - 2002 What are the prices for these models as well. Anyone owning these models can give some advice.

Also any particular model that is better or has more features that anyone recomend.

Whats the best place to buy a car alarm system. Also any recomendations on a good place to install the system. Do any place selling these alarm systems also do installation.

If anyone has any photos or videos please do post them. It would be nice to have a sneak peak at the expressway work. If anyone knows of any websites too post the links.

No motor bikes or Three wheelers allowed on the expressway. Also good to note that there will be 2 ambulances and a fire brigade for any emergency on the EW. I guess there might be more police mobile patrols and squad cars to keep an eye on speeders.

The first stage of the Colombo - Matara Expressway (up to Galle) will be completed in July 2010 and the total project would be ready by 2011. Total length of the expressway would be 126 kilometres, which is 34 kms less than the existing Colombo - Matara highway. The expressway costing Rs. 84 billion is Sri Lanka’s biggest development project in history(nop Colombo south harbour) and is also the first access controlled expressway (EW) in the country. Design speed of the project starting from Kottawa on Highlevel road and ending at Godagama in Matara is 120 kilometres per hour. “One of the biggest advantages of the project is that a motorist would be able to reach Matara in just one hour and twenty minutes and Galle in one hour,” said Project Director, Southern Transport Development Project (STDP), S. Meihandan. The EW is a four lane dual carriageway with eleven interchanges with toll gates and one rest area in Bentota with a 1.5m wide centre median with a cable barrier. The access to the expressway would be from Kottawa on High Level road and from Kahathuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodangoda, Welipenna, Kurundugahahetekma, Nayapamula, Pinnaduwa, Deegoda, Weligama and Godagama on Matara Akuressa road. There would be 153 underpasses and 27 overpasses as well. The EW would also be linked to the Colombo - Katunayake EW and the proposed Colombo - Kandy EW. He said the EW was originally planned to be a two lane expressway and it was converted to a four lane anticipating the future demand. “We estimate that the Southern expressway would be sufficient to meet the demand for another 25 years. There is provision for two additional lanes for the future,” he added. Two Special ambulances and a fire brigade would be assigned for the Expressway in case of an emergency. Commenting on the proposed ‘toll’ he said that the STDP, hopes to charge a toll of Rs. 3 per kilometer from Cars, Rs. 6 from Vans, Rs. 9 from Buses and Lorries and Rs. 12 from Container Trucks. A toll card is also planned for regular users. No motor bikes or three wheelers would be allowed in the EW. Japan International Co-operation Agency, (JICA) Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government would fund the project. The main objective of the project is to assist the development of economic activities of the Southern Province by encouraging growth in industries such as tourism, fisheries and agriculture. Another advantage would be the reduction of fatal and non-fatal accidents (Most of the present victims are pedestrians and cyclists) in the A2 highway. Security against potential tsunami impacts between North and South on the Western Coast has also been considered. Land acquisition and resettlement has been substantially completed. Post resettlement activities such as income restoration, home gardening development and environmental monitoring are in progress. He said that nearly 1340 families were displaced and Rs. 4.57 Billion had been paid as compensation so far. Commenting on new technology the project director said that application of Compact Vacuum Consolidation and heavy tamping methods to treat soft soil areas were introduced.

The SR-V model goes only upto the year 2000 i think. There is no new model after that year, if iam not mistaken. The SR-V is about 12lks with english reg numbers and the mazda hatchback is about 14lks if iam not wrong. Are they the amount that they go for in the market now or are the prices for these cars more or less.

Hows the Mazda BJ5W Hatchback model. I guess its the same as the sedan model but hows its performance and price as well. Does it have a good resale value. Is the BJ5W hatchback good or the Nissan Pulsar SRV hatchback a good model.

Looks like the Tata Nano the cheapest car in the world is not going to be that cheap after taxes in srilanka. Any news of the micro MX9 model or when it will hit the market in SL.

Does anyone know if the Dehiwala Flyover construction has started. They were to start work on the 15th of March. Also any new of the 2nd phase work at the Nugegoda flyover.

I came across a 2000 Ford Laser with english reg number and they were asking 1.6mil for it. Is it worth that amount. Also there was another place where the same model car was for sale and the asking price was Rs 1.1mil. I have noticed that car prices in SL for a certain models is not fixed but depends on the seller. Any opinions from the forum and their ideas on this topic.

Hope this works. It has the details. I dont think they have got any new photos of the sites and the buses yet. http://www.ntc.gov.lk/CityLiner%20Coach%20...0proposals1.pdf

I sure many of you must have read about the Park and Ride service to be started soon. Do you thing that this plan will be good and will be succesful. Also how are the parking facilities at the stops, are they secure and safe. Not sure of the fares and how much it will cost. Good chance for the Micro Luxary bus to get on the road too. Also check out the info at the link below. http://www.ntc.gov.lk/CityLiner%20Co...proposals1.pdf

Not sure if you guys have seen these pics as well from the website. http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8720/privilege.jpg http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3173/privilege1.jpg Not sure when they will start production of this model and also what price they will tag it with.

Just check out the micro cars website for the photo of the new Micro Privilege MC9 car deisgn. Micro has stopped production of the old Privilege model. Not sure when the new Privilege MC9 will be in production and also how much they might cost. Must say it looks better than the older version and also as the website says this is the only model that is designed in srilanka. Looks like there might be some competition for the Tata Nano.

Can anyone tell me what is the going price for a 1999-2001 Nissan Bluebird U14 model. I would like to know as this would help me in deciding on what car to get. Thanks.

we might be able to use the new licence card in foreign countries as the chip might make it more compatable with information. I guess we might not need to take international drivers licence when we go abroad from DMV.

What do you think would be the best price to pay for a Bluebird 1999-2001 model. Thats the u14 model. Does the bluebird come in 4cylinder and 6 cylinder engines or just 4 cylinder engines. The cefiro has a 6 cylinder engine i guess.

The Tata Nano is supposed to be relased to the public market on March 23, so the indian company says. They say that the cost would be in Indian Rupees RS 100,000. Wonder if they will import the Nano to srilanka. With all the taxes the cheapest car on the market might not be that cheap. Wonder what Micro is doing to get a new model relased in SL.

Hi-tech DL will meet international standards – Motor Traffic chiefby Narada Nissanka A technologically advanced driving licence scheduled to be introduced for the first time in Sri Lanka would have international recognition, Motor Traffic Commissioner General B. Wijayaratne said. The new license would be made available with effect from 26 of this month, he said. He said the use of cutting edge technology would eradicate the problem of forgery. For the purpose of providing new licences, the Motor Traffic office in Verahera had been selected and the office premises were being renovated and repaired at present, he said. The Driving License Card will be laser engraved and have high-tech security features such as optically variable ink, holograms, guilloches and micro printing. All information stored on the on-board chip will also be encrypted with the latest encryption technology. A streamlined computerized driving license management system will be implemented so that applicants can obtain the driving licenses with ease. All bio metric information such the photograph, digital signature and fingerprints will be captured directly when the application is submitted.

Is the U14 similar in price range of the Nissan Cefiro A32. Has anyone noticed that the front end looks a bit same for these models. Deos the Cefiro have a bigger capacity engine than than the bluebird.