Buckle up or face legal action

Colombo, June 17 (Daily Mirror) - Amid the increasing number of road accidents and fatalities, the National Council for Road Safety said that the mandatory use of seat belts by motorists and passengers will be strictly enforced from June 20, 2026.

Although seat belt regulations were introduced in the past, the law has not been strictly monitored or enforced until now.

Under the updated enforcement guidelines, drivers and front-seat passengers on regular roads are legally required to wear seat belts. For vehicles travelling on expressways, the law extends further, making it mandatory for the driver and all passengers in the vehicle to buckle up.

According to officials, the strict implementation comes in the wake of an increase in accidents.

In a recent expressway accident that left nine people injured, authorities said the driver and front-seat passenger, who were wearing seat belts, escaped with minor injuries, while passengers in the rear seats suffered more serious injuries as they were not wearing seat belts.

The government previously granted a grace period until June 19 to allow vehicle owners sufficient time to install rear seat belts if their vehicles lacked them.

According to the National Council for Road Safety, this grace period has already been extended twice and will not be pushed back further.

Legal Officer for the National Council for Road Safety, Priyanthi Gunasekara said that beginning Saturday, June 20, law enforcement will rigidly crack down on violators.

Under current legal provisions, failing to wear a seat belt carries a fine of Rs 1,000.

In addition, the National Council for Road Safety said in the future, the driver, vehicle owner and passengers themselves could all be held legally responsible for failing to comply with seat belt requirements.