Police warn against renting vehicles to foreign tourists

19 February 2026 02:25 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 13 Bookmark

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Colombo , Feb 19 (Daily Mirror) -The Sri Lanka Police has issued a strong warning to vehicle owners and tourism operators regarding the rental or lease of motor vehicles to foreign tourists without valid driving licences. The move comes after several accidents involving unlicensed foreign drivers, including five fatalities in 2025.

“Safeguarding tourists is a core responsibility and statutory duty of the Police,” Police spokesman F.U Wootler said.

“Vehicle owners and rental operators must ensure that drivers hold a valid driving licence, insurance, revenue licence, emission test certificate, and that the vehicle is free of mechanical defects before allowing them to drive,” he said.

Investigations revealed that some operators had rented vehicles, three-wheelers, and motorcycles to foreign visitors who did not possess a valid licence. In addition to fatalities, there were seven serious accidents, 78 minor injuries, and six cases of vehicle damage last year.

The Police spokesman said that, under the Motor Vehicles Act, driving without a valid licence is a punishable offence. “If a foreign national drives without a licence, or if a minor is allowed to drive, both the driver and vehicle owner will face legal action,” the spokesperson said.

Special inspections and traffic operations have been launched in the Southern Province to ensure compliance. Service providers must verify that foreign drivers hold one of the requirnment of an International Driving Permit valid for the relevant vehicle class, a Sri Lankan driving permit issued by the Department of Motor Traffic, or a conversion certificate issued by the Department of Motor Traffic upon submitting a foreign driving licence.

The Police warned that forged or invalid licences are also circulating and urged operators to remain vigilant. “Failure to comply will result in prosecution under the Motor Vehicles Act,” the spokesperson added, “and both the driver and vehicle owner will be held accountable.”

Comments - 13

Concerned driver Thursday, 19 February 2026 02:44 PM

Based on these current stats a foreign tourist is around 3 times LESS likely to be a fatal accident than our own people. Maybe we should start making sure our own population know how to drive first and making our police enforce the traffic laws to busses, and vip cars. The more tourists we rent cars to the less accidents across the population happen. The stats don’t lie.

5 11

Gajendran Friday, 20 February 2026 09:03 AM

Renting premises without registered lease agreement should also be investigated.

0 2

Suresh Perera Friday, 20 February 2026 11:41 AM

Havelock city is renting apartments to tourists for foreign currency in cash, No income tax to government.

0 1

PG Thursday, 19 February 2026 02:50 PM

In 2025, a total of 2,746 people died in fatal road accidents in Sri Lanka. There are about 13 million registered drivers in Sri Lanka. That's around 21 deaths per 100000 drivers. In European countries this is about 4.5 deaths per 100000. Significantly low. The main cause of high number of fatalities in Sri Lanka is due to Sri Lankan drivers and their poor driving skills such as Inattention, fatigue, careless driving, negligence driving, driving under the alcohol/drugs....etc. It is unfair to make it sound like foreign drivers are the cause of accidents.

2 13

Lol Thursday, 19 February 2026 06:32 PM

Oh really?? Weren't tourists given permission to drive in Sri Lanka?? What a joke this is!

1 8

M Fernando Thursday, 19 February 2026 08:15 PM

Driving License can be obtained on-arrival from the airport just like a SIM card ! This was announced with a lot of fanfare recently.. As usual, no co-ordination between SLTDA, Police.. All in the name of increasing tourism at All Costs..

0 13

Dr. Dee esquire Thursday, 19 February 2026 09:04 PM

Have you ever seen a proper ‘tourist’ driving a car or crossover? The ones who rent bikes and tuks are not tourists! They are tramps who brings zero revenue!

2 18

Jude Thursday, 19 February 2026 11:03 PM

That's the dark side of tourism!! Huh.

1 8

james Thursday, 19 February 2026 11:39 PM

legally recognize foreign drivers licenses for 6 months for incoming tourists with a valid visa. problem solved

4 8

Highly- regulated car hire centres needed Friday, 20 February 2026 12:18 AM

Why should we recognise foreign licences for 6 months for tourists? We want them to go back after their holidays; not squat in our country!

1 1

Taxpayers’ pay the police; tourists do not! Friday, 20 February 2026 12:04 AM

What about safeguarding the citizens of Sri Lanka from foreigners driving illegally? What happens to Sri Lankan fatalities and/ or injury caused by tourists? Is there no recourse for this? Anyone who violates the law should be held accountable; tourist or citizen.

3 8

CL Friday, 20 February 2026 12:07 AM

The bottom line is that tourists and foreigners can do whatever they like here, without authorities regulating or disciplining them. Just because we are struggling economically, that does not justify being trampled on. .

1 1

Blackmamb Friday, 20 February 2026 08:42 AM

We should begin by improving road-safety education for our local community, with particular attention to bus drivers and transfer operators. Only after addressing these priorities should we consider regulating vehicle rentals for tourists, especially since it is not yet clear whether tourist rentals are the root cause of current issues or simply a consequence. Many European citizens hold a valid Category B driving licence in their home countries, which often allows them to operate motorcycles under 125cc without obtaining a separate Category A licence. When they travel here, however, local regulations prevent them from riding motorcycles with a Category B licence, and they may also encounter difficulties converting their licences. If this situation continues, we risk limiting our appeal to a narrow segment of visitors instead of fostering sustainable growth in tourism

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