Personalised vehicle number plates planned after system upgrade

• Project could be launched within six months following the completion of the system upgrade 

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) plans to introduce personalised vehicle number plates featuring customers’ names once its existing system is upgraded, officials told the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF).   

At a recent COPF meeting, officials said the current system is outdated and has several technical limitations, preventing the immediate rollout of such a project. Work is currently underway to modernize the system, after which a special initiative to issue personalized number plates will be introduced.   

Responding to queries on the timeline, officials noted that the project could be launched within six months following the completion of the system upgrade.

 The proposed move is expected to give motorists the option of customizing their vehicle number plates, in line with practices adopted in other countries. All motor vehicles, except motorcycles, motor tricycles and motor tricycle vans, will be eligible to obtain special numbers upon payment.   

Approval for the initiative was granted when the COPF met in Parliament on April 21, 2026, under the chairmanship of Harsha de Silva, with the participation of Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Kaushalya Ariyaratne.   

Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Chitral Fernando, Nimal Palihena and Wijesiri Basnayake also attended the meeting virtually.