The government has postponed the mandatory seat belt installation requirement for expressway vehicles by three months, pushing the new deadline to September 2026.
Sri Lanka's government has granted a three-month extension for vehicle owners to install seat belts in all passenger seats of vehicles using expressways. The extension was formalized through an amendment to the Motor Traffic (Highways) Regulations No. 2 of 2011, published in Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2493/19 on June 17, 2026.
The decision came in response to appeals from relevant stakeholders seeking additional time for compliance. The new deadline for vehicles not originally equipped with seat belts by manufacturers has been moved to September 19, 2026, from the previous deadline of June 19.
The seat belt requirement was introduced under the Motor Traffic Act with the stated objective of reducing fatalities and injuries resulting from road accidents on expressway networks. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal from the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to bring the amended regulations before Parliament for formal approval.
