To reduce fatalities and serious injuries caused by road accidents on expressways, wearing seat belts will be made mandatory for all drivers and passengers of vehicles entering expressways from September 19.
Director in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, stated at a special media briefing that the police are prepared to strictly enforce the new regulation.
Legal provisions are in place to impose a fine of Rs. 1,000 on persons travelling without wearing seat belts. He further emphasized that the fine will also apply to passengers travelling on buses operating on expressways.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Council for Road Safety Manjula Kulatne stated that the grace period provided for installing seat belts in vehicles without them will also end on September 19.
The regulation will be implemented in accordance with Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2455/29 issued on September 25, 2025, with the primary objective of protecting the lives of road users.
