Social Mobility In Cherished Numbers

It was reported last week that Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Dr Mervyn Silva had written to the Inspector General of Police regarding the use by his staff of garage number plates.

Apparently President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered him to instruct his staff to remove the said CC number plates and use the registered plates issued by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

The minister had informed the IGP that he was using vehicles bearing WPC 2010/2011 garage plates for security reasons, and requested him to take appropriate action against those who misuse his good name by driving vehicles bearing WPC 2010/2011 plates.

This story highlights a growing and worrisome trend – all manner of people have been disguising their vehicles as those belonging to senior politicians and civil servants. This poses a problem not merely to the Police but also to other authorities and to the general public as a whole.