The Ministry of Transport and Highways, alongside the Sri Lanka Police, has officially commenced strict nationwide enforcement of mandatory seat belt usage for all passengers traveling in vehicles on expressways, effective September 19, 2026.

The regulation follows the midnight expiration of a one-year grace period granted to motorists and transport operators to retrofit rear-seat safety belts in older vehicles. Highway police units deployed across all expressway toll gates and interchanges have been instructed to inspect vehicles prior to entry, with non-compliant private vehicles, vans, and public transport buses strictly barred from using expressway corridors. Authorities reiterated that the safety measure is critical to reducing road traffic fatalities and severe passenger injuries during high-speed transit.