Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament today that under the newly enforced seat belt law, families can install an additional seat belt in the middle of the back seat to accommodate a child when travelling as a family of five. 

“All we are saying is fix a seat belt for every required seat. We have no power to say only three or four people can travel in a vehicle. What matters is that every passenger has a seat belt,” he said.

The Minister explained that vehicles already fitted with seat belts must have them worn by passengers, while vehicles without seat belts were given a one‑year period to install them. The law became mandatory from September 19.

He noted the positive impact of the regulation was evident in the recent 11‑vehicle expressway accident involving school students, where all passengers in a bus were wearing seat belts. As a result, the incident ended with only minor injuries.

Rathnayake emphasized that the law is designed to ensure safety rather than restrict passenger numbers. 

“If a family has three children and two parents, they can install an extra seat belt in the middle of the back seat for one child. We just want seat belts in vehicles,” he said. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Transport and Highways has announced that wearing seat belts will become compulsory for all passengers traveling in vehicles on Sri Lanka’s expressways from midnight today (18).

Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, Director of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, told the media that the one‑year grace period granted to motorists ends today. 

From tomorrow (19), drivers and passengers found traveling without seat belts will face legal action, and vehicles without seat belts will not be permitted to enter the expressway.

The Police said that the rule applies to both front and rear seat passengers, noting that failure to wear seat belts significantly increases the risks of road accidents and injuries. 

SSP Ranagala stressed that enforcement is aimed not only at imposing fines but at safeguarding lives.

Authorities warned that passengers in rear seats must also comply, and vehicles lacking seat belts should not attempt to access the expressway. (Newswire)

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Minister of Transport and Highways Bimal Rathnayake announced in Parliament today (08) that wearing seat belts will become mandatory for all passengers, both front and rear, on Sri Lanka’s expressways starting September 19.

The Minister said the measure follows alarming statistics: in 2025, 2,700 people died in road accidents.

He further said that research showed that casualties on expressways were predominantly rear‑seat passengers, especially women and children, prompting the decision to extend seat belt requirements beyond drivers and front passengers.

Rathnayake explained that the rule has been in practice for a year with a grace period provided for older vehicles that lacked rear seat belts. Owners were given time to install them, but from September 19, all vehicles including office transport, school vans, and hired vehicles must comply.

The Minister warned that vehicles failing to comply will face police enforcement and penalties.  

He acknowledged that some may protest against the decision but stressed that ample time had been given to adapt. 

“After September 19, no vehicle will be allowed on the expressway without the required seat belts,” Rathnayake said.

He added that the regulation applies exclusively to Sri Lanka’s highways. (Newswire)

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The Government has extended by three months the concessionary period granted to vehicle manufacturers to install seat belts in vehicles operating on expressways, following requests from industry stakeholders.

Under the Motor Vehicles (Expressways) Order No. 2 of 2011, issued in line with the Motor Vehicles Act, seat belts are mandatory for all passengers in vehicles traveling on expressways. 

The initial grace period for manufacturers to retrofit seat belts in vehicles without them expired on 19 June 2026.

Considering appeals to extend the deadline, the Government amended the Order through Extraordinary Gazette No. 2493/19 dated 17 June 2026, pushing the grace period to 19 September 2026.

The proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development for parliamentary approval has already been endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers. (Newswire)

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The National Council for Road Safety has announced that the mandatory seat belt regulation will be strictly enforced from June 20, ending the grace period previously granted to motorists.

Council Chairman Manjula Kularatne said all passengers, both in the front and rear seats, must wear seat belts when travelling on expressways. 

He emphasized that the rule will be applied without exception once the grace period concludes on June 19.

Authorities noted that the regulation had been introduced earlier, but enforcement was temporarily relaxed to allow the public time to adjust. 

With the deadline now approaching, officials confirmed that full compliance will be required from June 20 onward. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development has approved several key decisions under the Motor Traffic Act and reviewed losses and damage caused by the recent disaster situation in the country.

The decisions were taken at a meeting held in Parliament on January 6, chaired by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake. The approved regulations are due to be presented to Parliament on January 8.

• Decisions approved by the committee include:

1. Approval of regulations under the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203) allowing police officers, where there is reasonable suspicion of drug use, to produce a person driving, operating or physically controlling a motor vehicle before a Government Medical Officer or an authorised hospital officer for medical examination, as published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2452/40.

2. Approval of regulations making it mandatory for every person travelling on an expressway to wear a seat belt, as published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2455/29.

3. Acceptance of a briefing by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development on damage caused by the recent disaster situation and the progress of restoration work.

4. Noting that approximately 287 road sections under the Road Development Authority, covering about 1,481 kilometres, have been damaged, with estimated reconstruction costs of around Rs. 86 billion.

5. Acknowledgement of losses reported by the Railway Department amounting to approximately Rs. 300 billion due to the disaster situation.

6. Recognition of losses of around Rs. 63 million incurred by the Sri Lanka Transport Board as a result of the emergency.

7..Launch of a dedicated public website to provide information on road damage across the country, accessible via road-lk.org.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, State Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasekera, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, other Members of Parliament and senior government officials. (Newswire)

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Minister of Transport and Highways, Bimal Rathnayake, says steps will be taken to strictly enforce seat belt regulations for buses soon.

Speaking during a meeting of the Galle District Transport Committee, Minister Rathnayake said the licences of buses failing to comply with this law will be revoked.

“Each year, around 2,350 people die, and approximately 6,000 suffer critical injuries. That’s why the Ministry of Transport has introduced a Road Safety Plan for the years 2025 and 2026. Under this plan, we will impose a seat belt regulation. We will issue the relevant gazette. Although the law has been in place since 2011, no one really pays attention. People use highways without wearing seat belts,” he said.

Minister Bimal Rathnayake said these measures are being introduced to reduce the annual death toll from 2,300 to below 2,000. 

“We’ve set September 30th as the deadline for enforcement across all expressways. As I recall, the regulation applies to passengers as well. Most buses are already equipped with seat belts, so the law will be enforced strictly. Failure to comply will result in either the buses being banned or their licenses being cancelled,” he said. (Newswire)

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