The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced a likely two-month delay in issuing official number plates for newly registered vehicles due to ongoing procurement issues following the termination of its agreement with the previous supplier.

DMT Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe said the department had already submitted a procurement request to identify a new supplier and was hopeful the process would be completed within two months. “Once the procurement is finalised, the issuance of number plates will resume as normal,” he said.

In the meantime, the DMT has implemented a temporary measure to facilitate new vehicle registrations. Printed paper number plates, along with an official letter confirming vehicle registration details, are currently being issued to new vehicle owners. The Police Department has been notified and instructed to recognise these temporary documents as valid.

The disruption was triggered when the DMT’s previous supplier ceased operations under its agreement and subsequently issued a letter of demand, resulting in a shortage of number plates. Commissioner Amarasinghe admitted that efforts to resolve the situation have been delayed. “A recent meeting with the Cabinet-appointed negotiation committee fell through due to the absence of key stakeholders,” he explained.