To facilitate this change, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued necessary orders and instructions to all police stations across the island to recognize these digital documents.
Under the new system, motor insurance cover can be provided in several ways: as a digital card accessible via a mobile application provided by the insurance company, or as a printed certificate issued only upon the specific request of the policyholder. Furthermore, digital insurance cards are legally recognized under Section 3 of Chapter II of the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006, meaning their validity and legal effect cannot be denied simply because they are in digital form.
To support the transition, a National Insurance Verification System has been introduced, allowing both authorities and the public to verify the validity of an insurance policy instantly. Users can access this system by dialing the USSD code *1338# or by sending an SMS to 1338 with the vehicle or policy number. When entering vehicle numbers, users should not include spaces between letters and numbers, and for older vehicles with "SRI" (ශ්රී) numbers, the letters "SRI" should be typed in English. A dedicated hotline is also available at 1338 to connect users directly with the customer service departments of their respective insurance providers.
Importantly, all inquiries and messages sent to the 1338 service are provided free of charge. While the issuance of digital cards has begun, existing physical insurance cards will remain valid until their expiration date. Temporary insurance covers will also continue to be issued for the time being, though there are plans to phase them out in the future. In instances where a driver cannot present the digital card directly, a printed photocopy is acceptable, provided the police can verify its current "Active" status through the 1338 verification system.
