- 200,000 users face data discrepancies
A bulk registration facility is currently being developed to streamline the National Fuel Pass, widely known as the QR code system, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Digital Economy Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala said the new feature would enable both private and public institutions to register vehicle fleets collectively.
“We will soon introduce a facility to register vehicle fleets for organisations as a group,” he said, noting that it would simplify the process for large-scale users.
He also revealed that registrations for the National Fuel Pass had reached nearly six million, marking a significant milestone in the digital management of fuel distribution.
Despite the system’s overall success, approximately 200,000 users may encounter difficulties due to discrepancies with data in the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) database. Dhanapala explained that many of these issues stemmed from errors in reading physical documents.
“For example, when looking at a photocopy, a ‘0’ might appear as an ‘O’ in an engine number, or a ‘1’ might resemble an ‘I’,” he said, adding that such discrepancies required periodic verification. He noted that system updates and corrections were being carried out in real time while the platform remained operational.
According to Dhanapala, the system has experienced a sharp surge in users, with approximately two million registrations recorded within the two weeks since 15 March. Despite this rapid increase, he assured that the system remained stable.
“We corrected the instability that occurred due to the initial load during the first phase. Therefore, this recent surge did not have an impact on the system,” he said.
The platform is also being expanded to include the non-vehicle sector, covering essential industries such as agriculture and fisheries. Dhanapala said efforts were underway to integrate the registration of agricultural equipment and fishing vessels into the system.
He noted that this expansion would provide a more comprehensive understanding of fuel consumption patterns while offering significant relief to users in these sectors.
Clarifying institutional roles, Dhanapala said the Ministry of Digital Economy functioned as the technical service provider, while the Ministry of Energy retained ownership of the system. He added that the platform’s development had been supported through collaboration with the private sector.
“Two IT companies, MillenniumIT and Dialog, are providing their development and hosting services free of charge,” he said.
To address public concerns and registration issues, the Government has decentralised support services beyond the 1919 hotline. “In coordination with the Ministry of Public Administration, we have appointed a coordinating officer in every divisional secretariat to resolve issues faced by the public,” Dhanapala said.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, addressing concerns over misuse of the system, revealed that investigations had uncovered instances of QR code-related fraud.
Authorities have identified 153 mobile phone numbers linked to the illegal downloading of QR codes, which had prevented legitimate vehicle owners from accessing their assigned codes. These cases have been referred to the Police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further legal action.
The Police has also intensified action against illegal fuel-related activities. Raids conducted at 79 locations across the country have uncovered instances of fuel being stockpiled for black-market sale.