Is this how public service works?
I booked my Driving License renewal for one-day service on May 20th, planning ahead, but what followed was extremely frustrating. Last week, I went for my medical check at Nugegoda Medical Center, and before even checking me, they demanded proof of payment for a 2022 accident. I explained that the documents were lost in recent floods, but they said: “We can’t proceed without it.”
A quick backstory: the accident case dragged on 2 years, ending in Jan 2024. Even though it wasn’t my fault, I had to pay the other party because it was hard to manage my courses and work, and I had already wasted money on lawyers who were too lazy to fight properly in court.
For my license issue, I went to court requesting a copy of the final ruling. They asked 1 week. I waited. When I went back, they said they couldn’t find it and it might take weeks or months. Alternative? None.
This system doesn’t ask for bribes directly. Instead, they make you wait endlessly, and when you can’t, you’re forced to pay someone for a “quick solution.” A guy in the court record room introduced a lawyer to write a motion for me, demanding 3,000 LKR to write a motion and to get copies he'll pay someone in the records office. I didn’t go with the lawyer. I just submitted the request with my case number, and they accepted it. Anyone can do it. This proves how unnecessary and exploitative the whole “lawyer for motion” thing is.
Today, I went to Werahera DMT to request a token for one-day service thinking I might find a solution their or possible date change. The counter lady shouted at me:
“It’s not our problem. Your license may be suspended, use your brain and talk to the relevant department!”
I calmly explained that my license is not suspended, confirmed in the system. She refused service without a medical. She was not ready to listen or explain what should I do next, so I left after waiting sometime.
We as citizens pay taxes and expect basic services, yet the system pushes us toward indirect bribes, wastes our time, and treats us disrespectfully.
Why is there no online system in court to get ruling copies? Why is everything still written manually, making it take so long to find? It makes their work harder and wastes our time too. There is no alternative way. The government should implement a solution for this mess.