The long-standing backlog of vehicle number plates at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) is expected to be cleared within the next two to three months, Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe said.
The long-standing backlog of vehicle number plates at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) is expected to be cleared within the next two to three months, Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe said.
He said the Cabinet-Appointed Procurement Committee had opened bids from suppliers last Friday, and the Ministry of Transport would soon approve the successful bidder. Once finalised, the DMT will issue official, tamper-proof number plates to all pending vehicles.
“Each bid is being carefully evaluated for compliance with technical and security standards, cost, delivery capacity, and supplier track record. This ensures that the Department can finally meet the needs of vehicle owners across the country,” Amarasinghe noted.
Currently, over 15,000 motor cars and vans, and more than 80,000 motorcycles await official plates. These vehicles were imported and registered following the lifting of the import ban on personal vehicles in February this year. The Department’s registration system, introduced in 1996, has been struggling with heavy workloads and data errors, leading to service delays.
Addressing concerns about legal issues arising from the shortage, Amarasinghe said the DMT had informed the Inspector General of Police, District Secretaries, and Provincial authorities. Temporary printed or handwritten numbers have been issued during the shortage, which the police have been instructed to accept as valid.
However, he stressed that police will strictly monitor the misuse of red garage plates, which are valid only for seven days and within the owner’s province. Authorities have also cautioned against attempts by criminal elements to use bogus handwritten numbers, urging motorists to carry registration, insurance, and revenue licence details at all times.
