World · Sri Lanka Bureau
Police outline exemptions to mandatory expressway seat belt rule
Sri Lanka's traffic police have clarified which passengers are exempt from newly mandatory seat belt requirements on expressways. The exemptions were formally specified in a government gazette notification issued on June 25, 2025.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The Traffic Control and Road Safety Division has provided guidance on exceptions to the seat belt regulation that came into effect on expressways, according to Deputy Inspector General W.P.J. Senadheera, who oversees the division.
Under the new mandatory seat belt policy for expressway passengers, certain categories of road users have been granted exemptions as outlined in the official gazette notification. The DIG confirmed that children below a specified age threshold are among those excepted from the requirement, though full details of all exemptions were not immediately specified in available information.
The implementation of compulsory seat belt use on expressways represents a strengthened approach to road safety in Sri Lanka. Police have emphasized the importance of the regulation in reducing injury and fatality rates among expressway travelers.
Motor vehicle operators and passengers traveling on expressways are advised to familiarize themselves with the specific exemption criteria detailed in the June 25 gazette notification to ensure compliance with the new regulations. The traffic authorities have made the clarification available to help the public understand their obligations under the updated safety rules.