Seat belt law to be enforced 100% on highways: Police

21 January 2026 02:14 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 2 Bookmark

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By Poojathmi Rivithma

Colombo, Jan. 21 (Daily Mirror) - Police have stepped up enforcement of seat belt laws, citing a 2011 Gazette notification that requires all drivers and passengers, including those in rear seats, in vehicles with English number plates to wear seat belts.

Deputy Inspector General of Police W. P. J. Senadeera said that both the driver and the front-seat passenger must wear seat belts when entering highways.

He added that vehicle owners will face legal action if their vehicles are not fitted with seat belts.

The regulation, aimed at improving passenger safety, officially came into effect today (January 1, 2026), with active police enforcement. All individuals travelling on expressway passenger buses in Sri Lanka are now required to wear seat belts throughout their journey.

Senadeera further explained that if a passenger is found not wearing a seat belt, legal action will be taken against both the passenger and the driver.

He stated that strict enforcement of the law is underway to enhance road safety.

He also said that buses carrying passengers beyond their permitted capacity will not be allowed to enter highways, and excess passengers will be dropped off before the highway entrance.

Senadeera warned that motorcycle racing on roads in and around Colombo will be stopped immediately, with strict legal action.

High-capacity motorcycles will be taken into police custody, produced before court and investigated.

Comments - 2

Ashan Wednesday, 21 January 2026 05:45 PM

You should send undercover police officers to find riders that do racing. Check in bylanes around cities. Lot of youth do this. Next headache is beat silancers. That noise makes it difficult for toddlers to sleep too. Ban import and use of beat silancers. If anyone using it, give a heavy fine. Also it is high time to introduce new laws banning restaurants or homes using sounds at night. If any hotel or restuarant needs it, they need to compulsory have sound proof building. For example, I so a cabana restuarant near Kothalawala fuel station using heavy music multiple timea at night but no action taken by police.

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geethika Thursday, 22 January 2026 06:16 AM

if bikers or other vehicles found out racing should confiscate and use for police use since we need more manpower in the field to check public safety, at least until person is released police should remove modification and use for police business, need to update our laws to benefit the nation and work towards improving, parents should be heavily fined if children are racing

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