The Department of Motor Traffic has acknowledged that the removal of the Province indication on vehicle number plates was due to the failure of the project. 

During a session with the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF), DMT officials revealed that the Province indication on vehicle number plates was introduced during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

“Province indication was introduced to vehicle number plates to enable the Police to identify the origins of the vehicles during the war. This project was introduced together with the Police Department. The number plates were introduced with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). However, as the Police did not possess the necessary equipment to read the RFID, we decided to remove the province indicator and RFID from vehicle number plates,” the officials revealed.

They further said that the decision for the removal was also due to the public paying large sums for specified number plates. 

When inquired by the COPF  whether the Police are capable of identifying vehicles now, the DMT officials acknowledged that vehicles cannot be identified in such a manner.

“The Police Department has informed that the system is not required at present, due to no existing war situation. And we do not have any request in this regard,” they added. 

Responding to the disclosure, COPF Chair Harsha de Silva said that the project was considered a total waste of public finance.

He said the project had been introduced by the DMT at a time when the Police Department did not possess the necessary equipment to read Radio Frequency Identification on vehicle number plates. (Newswire)

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The Motor Traffic Department is working on a new system to introduce personalized vehicle number plates bearing personalized names, the Parliamentary Committee on Public Funds (COPF) was informed. 

During a recent meeting of the COPF, Motor Traffic Department officials noted obstacles due to the existing, outdated system.

They further said that once the system is updated, the department intends to introduce a special project with regard to the personalized number plates. 

When inquired about the timeline for the introduction of the project, the officials said once the system is updated, the project could be launched within six months.

Motor Traffic Department officials also said that reservations for specific number plates, priced between Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 1 million, are underway, with some people having obtained such number plates for Rs. 01 million.

Providing a breakdown of special number plates, officials said 11 vehicles obtained them in 2023, 46 in 2024, and 692 in 2025, while a further 436 individuals had reserved Rs. 1 million plates as of April 17, 2026. In total, 1,185 vehicles have obtained or reserved such plates since 2023. (Newswire)

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The Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Kamal Amarasinghe, who was in remand custody, was granted bail today (20) by Pilessa Magistrate W.M.M.I. Wasala.

Accordingly, he was released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and two sureties of Rs. 200,000 each.

However, a foreign travel ban has been imposed on him, and the case is scheduled to be taken up again on May 11.

Kamal Amarasinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department on March 27 over an alleged irregularity in vehicle registration. (Newswire)

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The Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Kamal Amarasinghe, who was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been further remanded. 

The suspect was produced before the Kurunegala Pilaessa Magistrate’s Court today (10), where the Magistrate ordered that he be remanded until April 20. 

He was arrested over allegations of aiding and abetting the alteration of a chassis number of a cab and facilitating a fraudulent vehicle registration. (Newswire)

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The Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Kamal Amarasinghe, has been further remanded until April 10 by the Kurunegala Pilessa Magistrate’s Court.

He was arrested last week (27) by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations of aiding and abetting the alteration of a chassis number of a cab and facilitating a fraudulent vehicle registration.

Following his arrest, Amarasinghe was produced before the Kurunegala Pilessa Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that he be remanded until March 30.

According to the Police, investigations into the incident are ongoing. (Newswire)

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Four former and current officials of the Department of Motor Transport (DMT), who were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, have been remanded after being produced before the court.

Considering the facts presented regarding further investigations into the suspects, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered that the four suspects be remanded until 20th March 2026.

It is reported that these arrests were made following an investigation into several allegations, including fraudulent vehicle registrations.

Those arrested are reported to be a former Assistant Director, a former departmental clerk, an Assistant in Investigations and Development, and a former Deputy Commissioner.

Among the charges against them is the registration of four vehicles imported without customs clearance (without paying customs duty) at the Department of Motor Transport.

It is further alleged that false information was deliberately entered into the department’s computer system to register those vehicles through unlawful assignment.

In addition, they are accused of knowingly accepting a forged document regarding a change of colour of a motor vehicle and issuing a ticket number, as well as approving a submission with forged documents for a request form relating to the weight of a motor vehicle without the proper form. (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 Cabinet-appointed Procurement Committee formally opened bids last week to enable the clearance of the long-running backlog of vehicle number plates, Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), Kamal Amarasinghe, said. 

According to the Sunday Observer, Kamal Amarasinghe said the Cabinet-appointed Procurement Committee is expected to review supplier bids, with the Ministry of Transport expected to approve the successful supplier shortly.

Following the finalisation of bids, the DMT will issue official and tamper-proof number plates to all vehicles within two to three months, he said. 

“We’re carefully assessing each bid against technical and security standards, cost efficiency, delivery capability, and supplier reliability. This thorough process is what will finally allow the Department to meet the needs of vehicle owners across the country,” Kamal Amarasinghe stated. 

He further said that at present, over 15,000 motor cars and vans, and over 80,000 motorcycles, that were imported and registered after the import ban on personal vehicles was lifted in February this year, await official plates.  

Revealing that temporary printed letters or handwritten numbers have been issued due to the shortage, the DMT Commissioner General said the police have been instructed to treat them as valid to prevent any legal challenges. 

“The DMT had kept the Inspector General of Police, District Secretaries, and Provincial authorities fully informed in this regard. However, the Police will check vehicles with red garage plates, which can only be used for seven days and only within the province where the owner resides,” Kamal Amarasinghe added. (Newswire)

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Three individuals, including a former Assistant Commissioner at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), have been arrested by the Bribery Commission. 

According to the Bribery Commission, the trio have been arrested over the illegal registration of vehicles, bypassing Customs clearance procedures. 

The suspects are to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to three individuals, including former Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic, Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe, who were arrested over the illegal registration of a luxury vehicle. 

The three individuals were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption last week in connection with an investigation into the illegal registration of a vehicle that had not been released by Sri Lanka Customs.

Following their arrest, the Bribery Commission revealed that the suspects were taken into custody over the unlawful approval and registration of a Toyota-type SUV. 

It is alleged that Weerasinghe had approved the issuance of a registration number for the vehicle, while the other two suspects, the department’s former Assistant Director of Information Technology and a clerk, had facilitated the illegal data entry process that enabled the registration. (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 Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested three suspects with Rs. 04 million, allegedly received as a bribe.

The Bribery Commission says the suspects include a Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Motor Traffic.

The suspects were arrested following a special raid conducted by the Bribery Commission at the Department of Motor Traffic today. (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 Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of Kamal Amarasinghe as the new Commissioner General of Motor Traffic.

The proposal in this regard was presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation. 

The appointment comes as current Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe had requested to be released from the post, so that he could work in another sector of the government service. 

As such, Kamal Amarasinghe, a Special Grade Officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, currently serving as the Secretary to the Ministry of Highways, Transport, Housing and Construction of the North Western Provincial Council, has been nominated to the post of the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic has introduced a new WhatsApp number for the public to submit complaints and appeals.

According to the department, the public can submit their complaints via the WhatsApp number  ‘071 403 3300’.

Using the WhatsApp number, the public can submit their complaints and appeals to the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic. (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 Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) reports over three thousand driving licences have been temporarily cancelled by the courts so far this year. 

DMT Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe said a total of 3,249 licences have been temporarily suspended from January till now.

He further said that the driving licences were temporarily cancelled by the courts during trials held for various offences committed by the drivers. (Newswire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic says steps will be taken to provide permanent driving licence cards from September or October this year to motorists currently with temporary driving licences. 

Commissioner General of the Department Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe said permanent driving licence cards were unable to be issued due to issues in importing licence cards as a result of the economic crisis.

He further said this resulted in the department issuing temporary licences instead of permanent licence cards to over 800,000 motorists. 

Despite the necessary cards having been imported, normally 900,000 to 1 million driver’s licences should be printed per year as new driver’s licences and renewals, he said. 

Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe said, however, as there was a delay in printing, it had resulted in the driver’s licences piling up and not being issued.

The Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe made the remarks while addressing the media today. (Newswire)

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The services of the Department of Motor Traffic will be digitized from March 04, 2024, Minister of Transportation Bandula Gunawardena said. 

Addressing the media today, the minister said following the digitization process the public will not be required to visit the Department of Motor Traffic.

He further said that a mobile application will be introduced for this purpose, while the public can also book their appointments via the Department of Motor Traffic’s official website.

“As part of the first phase of the digitization programme, the mobile application and website will be used to reserve a date and time to obtain services,” the minister said. 

Meanwhile, Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe it was mandatory for the public to reserve a time and date to obtain the services of the department from March 04 onwards.

He further said that reservations can be made by contacting the hotline 2 117 116 or by visiting the website www.dmtappointments.dmt.gov.lk (NewsWire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic has decided to temporarily suspend the issuing of revenue licences in the Western Province due to a system update.

According to the department, the services will be unavailable from Wednesday, September 27 to Monday, October 02. 

The Motor Traffic Department said in a statement that vehicles of which revenue licences are expiring from Tuesday, September 26 can be renewed until October 10, without fines. 

Meanwhile, the online service for revenue licences was temporarily suspended from midnight yesterday (September 24) and will remain so until Friday, October 06.

The department added that the temporary service suspension was due to an update on the system maintained by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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