The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) in Sri Lanka announced plans to cancel all driving licenses, including heavy vehicle licenses, that currently have no expiration date by the end of this year.
These affected license holders will be given a six-month window, starting in 2024, to renew their licenses with updated expiration dates.
Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe emphasized the importance of this move, highlighting concerns about the lack of physical fitness assessments for holders of such licenses, particularly those operating heavy vehicles.
This has become a significant safety issue, according to Weerasinghe.
To renew their licenses, drivers are required to present their existing license and a medical certificate. The DMT estimates that approximately 1.1 million heavy vehicle licenses and 1.2 million standard driving licenses fall under this category.
Weerasinghe also noted that the department is currently printing 800,000 driver's license cards that had been delayed and expects this backlog to be cleared within three months.
The Sri Lanka Department of Motor Traffic started issuing driving licenses with an expiry date in 2012 when the new Smart Card driving licenses were introduced. These licenses are valid for eight years.