Foreigners without valid permits prohibited from driving in Sri Lanka: Police

16 November 2025 04:11 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Colombo, Nov. 16 (Daily Mirror) - Police Media Spokesperson ASP F. U. Wootler has reminded that foreign nationals who do not possess a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) or a domestic driving licence from their home country are not permitted to drive any vehicle in Sri Lanka.

He said that police have increasingly observed tourists driving three-wheelers illegally. “We have witnessed many foreigners using three-wheelers, which is illegal. The police have taken stern action against the owners of these vehicles,” he said.

ASP Wootler said that both foreign tourists and local travellers must adhere to the regulations outlined in Sri Lanka’s Motor Traffic Act when using vehicles in the country. He added that many foreign nationals have been found driving without valid licences, prompting heightened enforcement.

According to the police, foreign nationals holding a valid International Driving Permit may legally drive in Sri Lanka. Those with domestic driving licences issued in their home countries may also drive, but only after obtaining a certificate or endorsement from the Department of Motor Traffic.

Comments - 14

Sokrates Sunday, 16 November 2025 04:32 PM

If a foreigner has a domestic or international driving licence, why do they need a certificate from the DMT? What a tourist-unfriendly regulation. As we see every day on Sri Lanka's roads, any monkey can drive a three-wheeler. The sticking point is probably that our traffic cops are too uneducated and cannot read foreign or international driving licences.

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Cassie Sunday, 16 November 2025 08:39 PM

That's not what he said. Read the article before commenting.

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Poor definition of being uneducated Sunday, 16 November 2025 11:35 PM

Not knowing a second language does not equate to being uneducated. How many British policemen can read French or any other European languages?

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Ranil Sunday, 16 November 2025 06:23 PM

Driving license law should be bilateral and reciprocal. Only countries that allow a Sri Lankan license holder the foreign driving privilege must be considered. This will also force SL authorities to streamline and force a corrupt free driving license system by forcing a license maintenance, license activation and renewal program after checking against police records for traffic tickets, dangerous driving, moving violations, etc.

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European Sunday, 16 November 2025 06:30 PM

In every developed country it is safe to rent a car and drive yourself. In Sri Lanka you need a driver who is used to all those idiots driving.

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Corrupt Sunday, 16 November 2025 08:08 PM

There are so many regulations in SL on the roads. But if you bribe the corrupt police you can do anything. They normally ask for 5000 Rupees or they will take a bottle of Arrack. No problem. So why do they need any regulation?

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Dr. Dee esquire Sunday, 16 November 2025 08:31 PM

Three wheeler is a menace to this country! While every sane country is moving away from it , including Delhi metropolis and bkk metropolis, we are still allowing this low grade menace!

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Aha Sunday, 16 November 2025 09:28 PM

SL should be very careful with foreigners driving and doing things illegal... SL should not depend solely on tourism... Need other ways to make revenue

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Goodwill Sunday, 16 November 2025 10:30 PM

this will be very negative impact to the tourism sector, most of the tourist like to visit sri lanka due to freedom of the country which not allow any other country. specially Three wheel driving giving verry different experince for the most of the visitors, please think twise when you take decision and make a surveyor/reseach to find out the better solution before its too late. other thing is, check how many accident ocurred while forign travelers driving or is there any safety concerns of this decision?

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sitha Sunday, 16 November 2025 11:50 PM

Domestic licences are in the language of the country issuing them.Dutch licences are in Dutch and German licences are in German.Ypu can't expect our police officers to know all the languages.What if it is Chinese!!!

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Sokrates Monday, 17 November 2025 10:28 AM

The international driving licence is a supplement to, not a replacement for, the national driving licence; both documents must be carried when travelling. In addition to various languages, English is always included in he international licence. It must be a prerequisite for Sri Lankan police officers to be proficient in English. This is also because English is the official lingua franca in Sri Lanka.

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intiquab Ghouse Monday, 17 November 2025 03:32 AM

Tourist should never be permitted to drive three wheelers, the locals loose an income,

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Herman Perera Monday, 17 November 2025 03:47 AM

It was a Pleasure to see A BURGHER in the POLICE FORCE explaining in ENGLISH. Brilliant.

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a blow to Sri Lanka's tourist industry Monday, 17 November 2025 07:30 AM

The majority of tourists who visit Sri Lanka are low budget tourists who hardly spend any money and hire a tuk tuk to drive around to visit places of interest saving every dollar. The introduction of a valid permit prohibiting foreigners from driving in the country without a valid permit will only be a big blow to Sri Lanka's ailing tourist industry which is desperately trying to achieve a target of 3 million tourists this year. According to latest figures the target cannot be achieved and revised to 2.67 million while many countries around the region attract more than 10 million tourists every year. However according to international rules you are expected to hold an international driving license to drive in another country.

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