The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has confirmed that green-background number plates issued for electric vehicles (EVs) are legally valid, following concerns after a recent incident in which a motorist was stopped and questioned by traffic police over the use of such a plate.
Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Retired Air Vice Marshal Thushara Indunil Fernando, said green number plates are legally issued for electric vehicles and that there is no legal issue with vehicle owners using them. The DMT is taking steps to ensure that all electric vehicles receive the specially designed green-background plates.
The clarification follows a recent incident in Weliweriya, where a newly registered electric vehicle owner said he was stopped and questioned by traffic police after officers noticed its green number plate. The incident raised concerns about whether traffic officers were adequately informed about the newly introduced plates.
The development comes amid broader police action against non-standard vehicle number plates. Sri Lanka Police have previously warned that vehicles displaying plates that do not comply with prescribed standards could be taken into custody and produced before court.
The DMT has also confirmed that white and yellow number plates will continue to be issued for other categories of vehicles under the existing system.
Meanwhile, the Department has prepared 88,740 number plates for registered vehicles. Of these, 56,233 plates are for vehicles registered between June 10 and August 31, 2026, while another 32,507 plates have been prepared for vehicles registered during 2023 and 2024.
Vehicle owners have been advised to collect their prepared number plates from the DMT office in Narahenpita.
