Sri Lanka's Ministry of Transport and Highways has begun enforcing a mandatory seat belt requirement for all vehicle passengers on expressways, ending a one-year grace period that expired on 18 September.
Sri Lanka has moved to enforce mandatory seat belt usage across all expressway passengers following the conclusion of a grace period that allowed vehicle owners time to install the safety equipment. According to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, the transition to full enforcement began on 19 September, with the previous one-year compliance window ending the previous day.
Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, Director of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, indicated that non-compliance will result in legal action against both drivers and passengers. The enforcement applies uniformly to front and rear seat occupants. Vehicles without functional seat belts will be barred from accessing expressways, according to police statements reported by NewsWire.
Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake confirmed that vehicles manufactured without seat belts were given the grace period specifically to allow installation before enforcement commenced. Police authorities framed the initiative as a public safety measure, emphasizing that seat belt usage significantly reduces injury risk during road accidents. The enforcement approach combines compliance requirements with legal consequences for violations.