The government has extended by three months the grace period granted to owners of older vehicles to install seat belts required for travel on expressways, Minister of Transport, Highways Bimal Rathnayake said.
The extension, announced through a new Gazette notification, allows owners of vehicles that were not originally manufactured with seat belts to install them until Sept. 19, 2026.
Rathnayake said the regulation requiring both front and rear seat passengers to wear seat belts on expressways was introduced to improve passenger safety rather than to impose penalties.
“We made seat belts mandatory for everyone travelling on expressways because vehicles travel at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. In many fatal expressway accidents, those seated in the rear suffer the most serious injuries,” he said.
The minister noted that since September 2025, vehicle owners had been given several extensions to retrofit seat belts in older vehicles that were not equipped with them by manufacturers.
“We are not introducing this law to fine people. We have given vehicle owners almost a year to comply. If you have not yet installed seat belts, please do so before the new deadline instead of waiting until the last moment,” he said.
Rathnayake also urged passengers to wear seat belts whenever they are available, stressing that preventing serious injuries would reduce the burden on the public healthcare system.
“When passengers are injured, their treatment is funded by taxpayers. Wearing a seat belt is a simple step that can save lives and reduce the impact of serious road accidents,” he said. (Newswire)