Starting September 19, all passengers in vehicles on Sri Lankan expressways must wear seat belts as part of a new road safety initiative. The measure also marks the end of a grace period for vehicles without factory-installed seat belts.
Sri Lanka will introduce mandatory seat belt usage for all passengers travelling on the country's expressways beginning September 19, according to an announcement by the National Council for Road Safety. The regulation aims to enhance road safety by reducing injuries and deaths resulting from traffic accidents.
The requirement will apply uniformly across all vehicles using expressway networks, with every occupant expected to comply with the new standard. According to Manjula Kularatne, Chairman of the National Council for Road Safety, the enforcement date also coincides with the expiration of a one-year transitional period previously granted to vehicles that were not equipped with seat belts during their original manufacture.
This policy shift represents an effort by authorities to strengthen safety measures on high-speed expressway corridors, where accident severity can be particularly high due to elevated traffic speeds.
