Latest Government Decisions for Vehicle Owners in Sri Lanka

Gazette from the Government for Vehicle Owners

A gazette notification has been issued making it mandatory for individuals engaged in several professional categories to register with the Department of Inland Revenue. This gazette notification was issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Economic Stabilization. According to the relevant gazette notification, the groups for whom registration with the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue is mandatory include;

Individuals who have registered vehicles with the Department of Motor Traffic are also included. (Excluding three-wheelers, motorcycles, and hand tractors)

Additionally, all individuals who have completed 18 years of age by December 31, 2023, or who reach 18 years of age on or after January 01, 2024, will also be subject to this new provision.

(Source : Department of Government Information - news.lk)

Provincial Letters Removed from Vehicle Number Plates

The government decided last year to remove provincial letters from vehicle number plates when registering a new vehicle and transferring ownership, effective from this year (January 01, 2023). Accordingly, there is no issue with the provincial letter on currently issued number plates, but if a vehicle that has been issued is sold to another province, the new plate issued thereafter will not include the province.

(Source: Department of Government Information - news.lk & Ada Derana)

Attention to Issuing Driver's Licenses to Fully Hearing-Impaired Individuals

The Commissioner of Motor Traffic states that issuing driver's licenses for fully hearing-impaired individuals will commence this year. Last year, a pilot project was implemented in the Gampaha district, providing driving learner's permits to 75 individuals with hearing impairments.

Based on its success, steps have been taken to implement the relevant program island-wide, and the Ministry of Transport and Highways states that nearly 1000 hearing-impaired individuals from across the island have already applied for driver's licenses.

(Source: Ministry of Transport and Highways - official website)

Demerit Point System for Driver's Licenses

The Department of Motor Traffic plans to implement a demerit point system for driver's licenses with the aim of reducing traffic accidents. The system, planned jointly by the Ministry of Transport and the Department of Motor Traffic, is expected to commence in the coming months.

Under this system, points on the license will be deducted based on the offenses committed by the driver. When the points are exhausted, the driver's license will be revoked. The traffic police have the authority to deduct points according to the relevant offense.

Each driver's license will initially receive 24 points. The Ministry states that once the points are exhausted and the license is canceled, the driver will have to reapply for it from the beginning.

(Source: Department of Government Information - news.lk & BBC Sinhala)

Steps to Include First Aid Training in the Driver's License Test

The government has taken steps to include first aid training in both the written and practical examinations for obtaining a driver's license.

The Ministry of Transport and Highways, the Red Cross Society (Colombo Branch), the Sri Lanka Police, and other institutions are scheduled to jointly implement the first aid training.

The objective of providing this first aid training to drivers is to prevent fatalities from daily traffic and road accidents, as well as other incidents, and to introduce correct first aid methods, considering their importance.

In the future, the government's attention is focused on including a section on first aid training in the written and practical examinations for issuing driver's licenses, and on making first aid provision more systematic.

(Source: Ministry of Transport and Highways - official website)