The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has launched strict islandwide enforcement against the manufacture and sale of motorcycle helmets without the mandatory Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) certification mark.
Under Direction No. 59 published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 1923/65 dated July 16, 2015, all helmets manufactured in or imported into Sri Lanka must carry the SLS 517 Product Certification Mark. Manufacture, importation, distribution, storage, display, or sale of helmets without this mark is illegal.
A special enforcement programme conducted on Monday (27) resulted in 98 raids carried out successfully, 431 helmets without the SLS mark seized, and 3,520 helmets manufactured during periods without valid SLS licences prohibited from sale at two factories.
From January to June 2026, authorities filed 53 cases, seized 87 helmets, and concluded 39 cases, with 14 cases still before courts. In total, 151 raids and legal actions have been carried out this year, covering more than 4,038 helmets.
The CAA warned manufacturers and traders to refrain from manufacturing helmets without a valid SLS licence, and for importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, mobile traders, and online sellers to refrain from displaying, or selling helmets lacking the SLS mark.
Consumers have been advised not to purchase low‑quality helmets without the SLS mark simply because they are cheaper, that substandard helmets may fail to protect lives in accidents, endangering both riders and their families, and to always check for the SLS mark and obtain a proper receipt when buying a helmet.
The CAA added that information on illegal helmet sales can be reported to the Authority via the hotline 1977. (Newswire)