The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has issued a special notice urging vehicle owners to collect printed but unclaimed number plates from 2023 and 2024 before June 30, 2026.

The DMT states that nearly 100,000 plates remain piled up at the department’s premises, including the Narahenpita head office and district branches across the island. 

The backlog has built up from plates printed in 2023 and 2024 but not yet collected by applicants.

Vehicle owners in the Colombo District are required to collect their plates from the Narahenpita main office, while those in other districts must visit the respective Motor Traffic Department branches located at District Secretariat offices.

The DMT stressed that all pending plates must be collected promptly and reminded owners that failure to do so could cause administrative delays.

For inquiries or further information, the public is advised to contact the DMT’s Number Plate Division via 011‑2033333. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic says that 400,000 permanent driving licences have now been issued to drivers who were previously given temporary licences.

Due to a shortage of permanent license cards in recent months, drivers who passed their driving tests were issued a temporary licence. 

Commissioner General of Motor Traffic Kamal Amarasinghe stated that permanent licences have now been issued to those drivers.

He further noted that another 100,000 permanent licences have already been printed and will be distributed in the coming days to drivers holding temporary licences. 

In addition, procurement arrangements for importing a further 1 million cards have been completed, and steps will be taken to bring them into the country soon, he added. (Newswire)

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A former Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Motor Traffic’s Registration Division, now serving at the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Trade and Investment Policies, was arrested on Thursday (12 Feb) by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. 

According to the Bribery Commission, the arrest was made around 9:00 am over allegations of granting approval for the unlawful transfer of motor vehicle No. (07/‑6889) on 17 February 2017 without a lawful initial registration at the Department of Motor Traffic. 

The suspect was later produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and released on bail. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) says driving licence issuance has returned to normal this year after major delays in 2025.

Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe said around 490,000 licence applications piled up last year, making it difficult to issue cards. 

Priority was given to applicants who urgently needed licences, especially those travelling abroad and for official purposes, through the one-day service.

At present, about 255,000 licence cards are being issued and handed over to Sri Lanka Post for delivery.

The DMT says the process in 2026 is now smooth, and applicants can obtain their licences without major delays. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced that it is currently gathering information on vehicles destroyed due to the recent disaster situation.

Commissioner General of the DMT, Kamal Amarasinghe, told the media today that from December 15 onwards, a special mobile service will be conducted at the district level to address this matter.

Based on the collected information, further action will be taken, and vehicles affected by the disaster will be inspected by the department to determine whether they are suitable for use or not, he added.

He further noted that, in addition to vehicles, some individuals’ documents have also been destroyed due to the disaster, and the department is collecting such information as well to proceed with necessary measures.

Accordingly, vehicle owners are advised to inform the Grama Niladhari of their division, who will then notify the Officer‑in‑Charge of the police station and file a police complaint. The Commissioner General emphasized that obtaining accurate reports from various agencies is essential for managing this situation.

Given the current circumstances, the DMT has received a large number of phone calls to its divisions, and therefore a special unit has been established to handle these inquiries, he said.

He further explained that information can also be provided via WhatsApp through the number 0707188866, and advised vehicle owners to preserve any available evidence of their vehicles or documents, as such evidence will be useful for future proceedings. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) says the online driving licence service is temporarily unavailable, and measures are being taken to rectify the situation. 

According to the DMT Commissioner General, the online system is unavailable due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in the country.

As such, licences will be issued offline at the Werahera and District Offices, the DMT Commissioner General added. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release on bail of three suspects, including a former Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Motor Traffic, who were arrested in connection with the illegal registration of a motor vehicle.

The suspects, who include two Assistant Managers of the Department of Motor Traffic, were arrested by the Bribery Commission today.

They were apprehended for registering a vehicle with the Department of Motor Traffic and approving the issuance of number plates, despite the vehicle not being cleared by Sri Lanka Customs.

During the proceedings before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga, the attorneys representing the suspects requested the court to release their clients on bail.

However, officers from the Bribery Commission informed the court that further investigations were underway regarding the incident.

After reviewing the facts presented, the Magistrate ordered that each suspect be released on bail under a cash guarantee of Rs. 2 million, while also imposing an overseas travel ban. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has seized 40 dilapidated vehicles caught running on the Ginigathhena-Kandy Road. 

The vehicles were detected during an inspection conducted by DMT officials on vehicles plying on the said route. 

The seized dilapidated vehicles include school transport buses, public transport buses, vans, lorries, and three-wheelers. 

DMT officials conducted vehicle emission tests and also inspected the general state of the vehicles, taking action against those that were found to be operating under unsuitable conditions. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) says over 73,400 vehicles have been registered since January this year following the removal of vehicle import restrictions.

DMT Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe noted that the largest number of these vehicles were motorcycles, with around 58,947 being registered.

He further said that, in addition, 7,500 cars and 1,666 three-wheelers have also been registered.

Kamal Amarasinghe pointed out that the highest number of registrations took place last month. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s new vehicle registration process is facing delays due to a shortage of number plates, the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has confirmed.

In a letter issued to new vehicle owners, the DMT states that due to the shortage, number plates will be delayed. As an interim solution, the department has granted temporary permission for vehicles to be used with a letter that includes the vehicle number and confirms the registration is valid.

This temporary measure is effective from April 28, according to the letter issued by the department.

Meanwhile, journalist Ranga Srilal took to social media to question the planning behind the situation. “The Motor Traffic Department has run out of vehicle number plates. Owners of newly registered vehicles are being charged for the plates but won’t receive them. What planning?” he questioned on ‘X’.

The DMT has not specified when the number plate shortage will be resolved. (Newswire/ AI Image)

ANOTHER CRISIS: While the Immigration Department is still grappling with a shortage of blank passports, the Motor Traffic Department has run out of vehicle number plates. Owners of newly registered vehicles are being charged for the plates but won’t receive them. What planning? pic.twitter.com/cQXDk8JR17

— Ranga Sirilal (@rangaba) May 16, 2025

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Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced it will conduct a two-day vehicle tuning dansal, in collaboration with the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative. 

The two-day vehicle tuning dansal will be held today (15 May) and tomorrow (16 May), in front of the DMT office in Narahenpita from 09.30 am to 03.00 pm. 

The initiative, organized by the Motor Transport Commissioner’s Department of Motor Vehicle Emissions Trust Fund, offers free tuning services for motorcycles and three-wheelers. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced it will be closed during the upcoming 2025 Local Government Elections.

The DMT said it will remain closed for two days, on 05 and 06 May 2025.

The Local Government Election is to be held on 06 May 2025. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced that the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) will be mandatory to register new vehicles and their related services.

Clarifying that the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) will be mandatory for the registration of new vehicles, the DMT said, however, certain types of vehicles are exempted.

The department said the TIN number is not mandatory for the registration or transfer of motorcycles, three-wheelers, tractors, hand-tractors and tractor-trailers. 

The clarification comes as the government had announced last month that following the lifting of vehicle import restrictions, the TIN number will be mandatory for the registration of vehicles. (Newswire)

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The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has expressed displeasure over officials of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) appearing before the Committee without prior preparation.

According to a Parliament statement, the officials were summoned to discuss the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as the department’s current performance.

However, as they were unprepared, the COPA committee sent them back with instructions to appear on a future date, after being duly informed and adequately prepared.

The incident occurred during a meeting of the Committee on Public Accounts held under the Chairmanship of MP Aravinda Senarath in Parliament on Monday (10 Mar). 

During the meeting, the Committee inquired into the implementation of directives issued during previous meetings. In particular, the Auditor General had presented 25 observations regarding illegal vehicle registrations that had taken place before the integration with the Customs computer system. 

The Committee expected a report detailing the investigations conducted on these matters and the disciplinary actions taken against the responsible officials. However, the Auditor General pointed out that such a report had not been submitted.

Although the officials present claimed that a report had been provided, the Auditor General stated that he had not received it. A copy of the purported report was tabled during the session, but upon examination, the Auditor General informed the Committee that it was entirely unsatisfactory. 

As a result, the Committee conducted an extensive inquiry into the matter, but the officials failed to provide satisfactory responses. They stated that they did not possess the relevant information dating back.

In response, the Committee expressed strong dissatisfaction with the officials’ conduct and decided to summon the department again at a later date. The officials were also instructed to be thoroughly prepared when appearing before the committee on the next occasion. (Newswire)

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A Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) in Sri Lanka has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for allegedly authorizing the registration of an illegally imported vehicle.

According to CIABOC, the arrested official, a resident of Rambukkana, was serving at the Hambantota office of the DMT and is currently under suspension.

The investigation revealed that a Toyota Land Cruiser was registered without proper clearance from Sri Lanka Customs.

Following his arrest, the suspect was presented before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and released on cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and five sureties of Rs. 500,000 each.

Additionally, a travel ban has been imposed on him.

This is not the first time the suspect has faced corruption allegations.

In October last year, he was arrested by CIABOC officials for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe to facilitate ownership transfers of three buses. (Newswire)

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The issuance of vehicle number plates, which was previously delayed, has resumed at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). 

Issuing a statement, the DMT said that individuals who have paid but are yet to collect their number plates are urged to collect them by 15 December 2024.

The DMT warned that it is illegal to use temporary number plates after 15 December and that the Police will initiate action against such vehicles. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Transport and Highways, in collaboration with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) Sri Lanka and with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has successfully launched a pilot project aimed at converting 200 petrol-powered, four-stroke three-wheelers into electric vehicles.

The initiative, which focuses on promoting sustainable transport options, primarily targeted beneficiaries from Colombo. 

Special consideration was given to female owners, persons with disabilities, and families whose livelihoods depend on a single three-wheeler. 

These groups were prioritized in the selection process. (Newswire)

The Ministry of Transport and Highways, the @DMTSrilanka with the support of @undp #lka conducted a pilot project to convert 200 4-stroke petrol three-wheelers to electric.

The beneficiaries were all selected from #Colombo, while female owners, persons with disabilities,… pic.twitter.com/6CsScGXtPl

— UNDP in Sri Lanka (@UNDPSriLanka) August 29, 2024

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The Ministry of Transport and Highways has refuted news reports about the cancellation of all un-updated driving licences.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), Transport & Highways Ministry Secretary Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe confirmed that the rumours were false.

He further said that a new system is to be introduced to update information for 2 million licences and the entire process is expected to be completed by year-end.

“The first driving license in Sri Lanka was issued in the 1960s. Since then, approximately 12.3 million licenses have been issued. Licenses from the 1960s do not have an expiry date, allowing them to be used indefinitely without renewal. As a result, the information for about 02 million license holders remains out-dated.

The digitization of all transport sector services is currently underway. Procurement for the digitization of black marks and on-the-spot fines is nearing completion. Starting January 1, 2025, fines and on-the-spot penalties will be managed through this new system, which will require updated information for all driving licenses.

We will soon implement a new method to update the information of nearly 02 million driving license holders who have not yet updated their details. This process will not require new medical records or a visit to the Department of Motor Traffic. We aim to complete this update for all license holders by the end of this year. It is important to note that no new driving licenses will be issued, nor will existing licenses be cancelled. Reports suggesting otherwise are entirely false”

Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe’s clarification comes after the state newspaper, the Daily News, reported that old non-biometric heavy vehicle driver’s licences will be invalidated next year, while drivers can obtain new licences. 

Quoting the Motor Traffic Commissioner General Nishantha Weerasinghe, the report further said that 1.1 million old heavy vehicle driver’s licences would be cancelled as part of this process and that those affected would be given time to obtain new licences. 

As per the news report, Nishantha Weerasinghe had also stated that around 1 million light vehicle driver’s licences, which cannot be renewed, will be invalidated soon.

However, the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways has refuted reports in this regard. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) says driving licences for heavy vehicles without an expiration date will be suspended and steps will be taken to commence the issuance of new licences from next year. 

DMT Commissioner General Nishantha Anurudda Weerasinghe said sufficient time will be provided to obtain the new licences, adding that the old driving licence and a medical certificate will be sufficient to receive the new licence. 

Weerasinghe said at present, there were 1.1 million heavy vehicle driving licences without an expiration date, while there were 1.2 million such licences for normal vehicles. 

He further said a period of six months will be provided for drivers with licences without expiration dates to obtain the new licence. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has taken a unique approach to the Poson Poya festival, offering a two-day vehicle tuning dansala, it was reported.

The two-day vehicle tuning dansala was inaugurated by DMT Commissioner General Nishantha Anurudda in front of the DMT head office in Narahenpita on Wednesday. 

The initiative has been organized by the Motor Transport Commissioner’s Department of Motor Vehicle Emissions Trust Fund

The dansala offers free tuning services for motorcycles and three-wheelers intending to address the lack of systematic maintenance by the drivers of the said vehicles due to various reasons. (Newswire)

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