A gazette notification making it compulsory for passengers traveling in buses on expressways to wear seat belts will be issued on 31 August, Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake announced.
Speaking at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, held in Parliament under his chairmanship, the Minister said the regulation is part of the government’s Clean Sri Lanka program. A grace period of about three months will be given for school buses, office transport services, leisure coaches, and other passenger buses operating on expressways to install seat belts.
Rathnayake noted that the price of seat belts, which was previously around Rs. 2,000, has now risen to between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 7,000, and stressed that the Consumer Affairs Authority should closely monitor the increase.
He also revealed that a public consultation carried out by Citra Innovation Lab—covering 2,100 passengers, drivers, and private bus owners—showed overwhelming support for mandatory seat belts in long-distance buses. Based on these findings, the government also intends to extend the regulation to long-distance services in the near future.
In addition, the Minister announced that new regulations will be introduced to inspect and certify spare parts and tires of vehicles before they are permitted onto expressways. Vehicles failing to meet required safety standards will be barred.
The Minister further disclosed that preparations have been completed to establish a welfare fund for private transport sector drivers, including three-wheeler and van operators, with a draft bill to be presented in Parliament soon.
The committee also discussed creating proper parking facilities for long-distance and expressway buses, the formation of two sub-committees to propose railway service improvements and port upgrades, and progress on the Kadawatha–Meerigama expressway section scheduled to begin construction in September.
