MOTOR TRAFFIC ACT
Arrangement of Sections
1. Short title.
PART I
REGISTRATION, POSSESSION AND USE OF MOTOR VEHICLES.
2. Motor vehicles not to be possessed or used without registration.
2A. Motor vehicle fabricated unlawfully not to be used.
3. Motor vehicles not to be registered unless they comply with certain requirements.
4. Prohibition of registration of motor coaches and owners thereof except in certain cases.
5. Description of motor vehicles upon registration.
6. Register of motor vehicles.
7. Application for registration.
8. Registration fee.
9. Distinctive number and certificate of registration.
10. Information to Commissioner.
11. Amendments in register.
11A. Transfer to be on specified forms.
12. Procedure on change of possession of motor vehicles.
13. Application for registration of new owner.
14. Registration of new owner.
14A. Power to change the distinctive number of a motor vehicle in certain circumstances.
15. Provision for absence of registered owner from Sri Lanka.
16. Registered owner to be deemed to be owner.
17. Evidence.
18. Cancellation of registration of a motor vehicle.
18A. Use of a motor vehicle pending registration for the first time.
18B. Penalty for fraudulently using or mutilating etc. of certificate of registration.
PART II
CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
19. Regulations as to construction of motor vehicles.
19A. No person to fabricate, manufacture motor vehicle except with permission of Commissioner-General.
19B. Prohibition on assembly of motor vehicles except with branded new parts.
19C. Prohibition on importation of certain vehicles.
20. Regulations as to mascots.
21. Identification.
22. Shape of identification plates.
23. Identification plates.
24. Possession of identification plates.
24A. Penalty for contravention of sections 21, 22, 23 and 24.
PART III
REVENUE LICENCES
25. Motor vehicles not to be repossessed or used without revenue licence.
26. Classes or descriptions of revenue licences.
27. Production of certificate of registration and certificate of insurance security.
28. Licences for omnibuses and private coaches to be issued only to holders of operational permits.
29. Revenue licences for motor vehicles.
30. Application for revenue licence.
30A. Minister may by notification alter date before which applications for revenue licences shall be made.
31. Licence fee.
32. Form and duration of revenue licences.
33. Limitation of duration of certain licences.
34. Power to insert conditions in revenue licence.
35. Maximum number of persons and passengers to be specified in revenue licences for private coaches.
36. Maximum load to be specified on revenue licences for lorries and motor tricycle vans.
37. Notice of period of non-user.
38. Revenue licence to be carried on motor vehicles and produced when required.
39. Circumstances in which revenue licence become void.
40. Surrender, cancellation and alteration of revenue licence.
41. Refund of licence fee.
42. Dealer’s certificate and licence.
43. Use of motor vehicle under dealer’s licence.
44. Visitor’s temporary licence.
45. Restrictions on use of motor vehicle in contravention of revenue licence.
PART IV
PASSENGER CARRIAGE PERMITS
OMNIBUS SERVICES
46. Repealed.
47. Repealed.
48. Repealed.
49. Repealed.
50. Repealed.
51. Repealed.
52. Repealed.
53. Repealed.
54. Repealed.
55. Repealed.
56. Repealed.
57. Repealed.
58. Repealed.
59. Repealed.
60. Repealed.
60A. Repealed
61. Repealed.
62. Repealed.
63. Repealed.
64. Repealed.
65. Repealed.
66. Repealed.
67. Repealed.
68. Repealed.
69. Repealed.
70. Repealed.
71. Repealed.
72. Repealed.
HIRING CAR SERVICES
73. Repealed.
73A. Repealed.
PRIVATE COACH PERMITS
74. Permits required for private coaches.
75. Authorised carriage under private coach permit.
76. Specification of private coach in permit.
77. Eligibility for private coach permits.
78. Regulations as to private coach permits.
PART V
GOODS CARRIAGE PERMIT
79. Repealed.
80. Repealed.
81. Repealed.
82. Repealed.
83. Repealed.
84. Repealed.
85. Repealed.
86. Repealed.
87. Repealed.
88. Repealed.
89. Repealed.
90. Repealed.
91. Repealed.
92. Repealed.
93. Repealed.
94. Repealed.
95. Repealed.
96. Repealed.
97. Repealed.
98. Repealed.
PART VI
INSURANCE AGAINST THIRD-PARTY RISKS
99. Users of motor vehicles to be insured or secured against or third-party risks.
100. Requirements as to policies of insurance.
101. Requirements as to securities.
102. Certain conditions in policies or securities to be of no effect.
103. Production of certificate of insurance or certificate of security on application for revenue licence.
104. Requirements as to production of certificate of insurance or of security.
105. Duty of insurers to satisfy decree against persons insured in respect of third-party risks.
106. Liability of insurer in respect of any decree.
107. Non-liability of insurer where policy is cancelled before event.
108. Declaration of non-liability for misreport sensation.
109. Declaration of non-liability for breach of condition.
110. Recovery of excess amount pay by insurer.
111. Further rights of third parties and effect of death on certain causes of action.
112. Rights of third Parties against insurers on insolvency of the insured.
112A. Transfer of Certificate of Insurance.
113. Duty to give information as to insurance.
114. Settlement between insurers and insured persons.
115. Insolvency of insured person not to affect claims by third parties.
116. Application of sections 112, 113 and 114.
117. Duty to surrender certificate on cancellation of policy.
118. Duty of insurer to notify Commissioner or cancellation or suspension or suspension of the policy.
119. Application of this part to securities.
120. Application of deposits.
121. Regulations for the purposes of this Part.
PART VII
DRIVING LICENCES
122. Classification of driving licences for motor vehicles.
122A. Categories of driving licences.
123. Prohibition of driving without driving licences.
124. Application for a Learners Permit and Driving Licences.
124A. Driving Licences Fund.
124B. Motor Traffic Appeals Board.
124C. Medical Committee.
124D. Appeals to Medical Committee.
125. Issue of driving licences.
126. Duration of .
126A. Replacement of driving licences.
126B. Renewal of a driving licence.
127. Refusal to issue driving communicated to applicant.
128. Validity of driving licences.
128A. Emergency service vehicles and public service vehicles.
128B. Special purpose vehicles.
128C. Driving a motor vehicle loaded with chemicals or hazardous waste &c.
129. Special provisions affecting licences to drive motor coaches, lorries and motor tricycle vans.
130. Licences to drive specified vehicle of a specified weight or description.
131. Power to issue driving licences without driving test to holder of driving licences issued outside Sri Lanka.
132. Temporary driving licences.
132A. International Driving Permit.
132B. Recognition of international driving permit or certificate in Sri Lanka.
133. Cancellation of driving licence in physical or mental disability.
133A. Demerit points.
133B. Demerit points to be included when imposing the penalty for offences under this Act.
134. Cancellation of driving licences.
135. Driving licence to be carried by driver and produced required.
136. Suspension or cancellation of driving licences and order disqualifying persons for obtaining licences.
137. Consequences of orders of suspension or cancellation.
138. Fraudulent application for driving licence.
138A. Commissioner General to be notified of change of residence.
139. Appeals from orders of suspension, cancellation or disqualification.
PART VIIA
139A. Licencing of driving schools and instructors.
139B. Application for instructor’s licence.
139BB. Instructor’s Licence and assistant instructor’s licence.
139C. Duration of instructor’s licence.
139D. Refusal to issue or renew instructor’s licence to be communicated to applicant or holder.
139E. Cancellation or suspension of instructor’s licence.
139F. Licensing of driving schools.
139G. Application for driving school licence.
139H. Duration of driving school licence.
139J. Refusal to issue or renew driving school licence to be communicated to applicant or holder.
139K. Cancellation of driving school licence.
139L. Appeal against refusal to issue or renew any licence under this Part.
139M. Regulations for the purposes of this Part.
139N. Interpretation.
139P. Transitional provisions.
PART VIII
USE OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON HIGHWAYS
(A) SPEED LIMITS AND RESTRICTION OF MOTOR TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS
140. Speed limits.
141. Regulations as to speed limits different from those set out in section 140.
141A. Penalty for driving at an excessive speed.
142. Exemption from and relaxation of speed limits.
143. Regulations for restriction of motor traffic.
144. Restriction of motor traffic on highways outside Colombo.
145. Condition of motor vehicles.
146. Regulations as to lights on motor vehicle.
(B) PROVISIONS AS TO DRIVING AND HALTING OF MOTOR VEHICLES
147. Motor vehicles to be driven in accordance with section 148.
148. Rules of the road.
148A. Precautions in crossing a railway.
149. General duty of driver to accidents.
150. Declaration of main roads.
151. Driving after the consumption of alcohol or drugs and reckless or negligent driving.
152. Position of driver when driving motor vehicles.
152A. Prohibit the use of mobile phone etc. while driving.
153. Signals by drivers.
154. Reversing of motor vehicles.
155. Sound or light warnings.
155A. Emission in certain instances to be an offence.
156. Riding on running boards of motor vehicles.
156A. Riding in omnibuses.
157. Number of persons in front seats of motor cars.
157A. Use of seat belts.
158. Pillion riding.
159. Distribution of advertisements.
160. Noise.
160A. Warning signs to be displayed whenever road repair are being done.
161. Duty in case of accident.
162. Traffic directions and police officer to be obeyed.
163. Motor vehicles to be stopped on request of officers in command of troops.
164. Traffic signs and notices of police officer, local authority and the Department of Highways or a Department of a Director of Works.
165. Precautions to be taken when petrol is taken into tank.
166. Halting or parking of motor vehicles on highway.
167. Precautions to be taken when motor vehicle is halted or left unattended or disabled on a highway.
168. Regulations for the guidance of under of roads.
169. Hours of work.
170. Public stands for motor tricycle vans, omnibuses and lorries.
171. Repealed.
172. Repealed.
173. Prohibition against charging of excess fares for omnibuses.
174. Recovery of excess fares.
175. Recovery of fares.
176. Property left omnibuses.
177. Repealed.
178. Carriage of persons in excess of authorised number in private coaches and of goods the than personal luggage in motor cars or private coaches.
179. Carriage of persons or passengers in excess of authorised number, and of goods other than personal luggage In omnibuses.
180. Persons not to enter omnibus or private coach when full.
181. Touting for passengers.
182. Register to be kept by owners of omnibuses.
183. Record sheet to be carried on each omnibus.
184. Repealed.
185. Provision where a conductor is carried on omnibus.
186. Repealed.
187. Repealed.
188. Carriage on lorry or motor tricycle van of goods in excess of maximum load.
189. Persons who may be carried on a lorry.
189A. Distinctive number of trailer.
190. Regulations as to motor vehicles.
(C) ROAD RACING AND TESTS
191. Orders enabling holding of races and tests.
(D) DERELICT MOTOR VEHICLES
192. Ordered motor vehicles.
PART IX
EXAMINATION, INSPECTION AND TESTING OF MOTOR VEHICLES
193. Power to inspect and test motor vehicles.
194. Power of Commissioner to inspection and examination of motor vehicles.
195. Approved gorges, approved inspection and testing centers and certifying officers.
196. Issue of Emission Certificate and Certificate of Fitness.
196A. Yearly examination and certification in respect of vehicles of the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board or any Regional Transport Board.
196B. Effect of issue of a fraudulent Emission Certificate and Certificate of fitness.
197. Examination of motor tricycle vans, motor coaches and lorries and prohibition of use thereof.
198. Inspection of lorries and motor tricycle vans and prohibition of use.
199. Repealed
200. Production of document carried in lorries or motor tricycle vans.
201. Repealed
202. Regulations.
203. Service of notices.
PART X
ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURE
204. Appointment of officers and servants.
205. General functions and Commissioner.
206. Repealed.
207. Repealed.
208. Repealed.
209. Repealed.
210. Repealed.
211. Repealed.
212. Repealed.
213. Motor Traffic Advisory Council.
213A. National Council for Road Safety.
213AA. Motor Traffic Appeals Tribunal.
213B. Road Safety.
213C. One Half of the fines to be credited to the Police Reward Fund.
213D. Motor Traffic Reward and Incentive Fund.
213E. Surcharge for modification and alteration of vehicles.
PART XI
OFFENCES PENALTIES AND PROCEEDINGS IN COURT
214. Contravention of Act, regulation, order.
215. Attempt and abetment.
215A. Spot fines.
215B. Penalty for contravention of subsection (4) of section 137 of the principal enactment.
216. Penalty for driving after consumption of alcohol or drugs.
216A. Penalty for driving certain motor vehicles after the consumption of alcohol or drugs.
216B. Penalty for causing death or injury to persons by driving motor vehicles after consumption of alcohol or drugs.
217. Penalty for driving recklessly or dangerously.
218. Penalty for driving without certificate of insurance or certificate of fitness or emission certificate.
219. Penalty for giving false information.
220. Penalty for imitation of revenue licences.
221. Penalty for contravention of Part III.
222. Offence by body corporate or partnership.
223. Penalty for causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information relating to an offence.
224. General penalty.
224A. Procedure to be followed by court in respect of certain offences.
224B. Suspension of driving licences by operation of law.
225. Power of court to order recovery of licence fee.
226. Motor vehicle to be deemed to be property of registered owner for purposes of section 60 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979.
PART XII
SUPPLEMENTARY
227. Fees.
227A. Levy of penalty often per centum for failure to pay licence fees on due date.
228. Power to declare urban areas.
229. Repealed.
230. Verification of facts in application.
231. Issue of duplicates.
232. Duty of owner to give information as to driver and occupants of motor vehicle.
232A. Duty of driver to give information as to his name and address.
232B. Seizure and forfeiture of vehicles.
232C. Reduction of disqualification period.
232D. Protection of action.
232E. Detention of drivers.
232F. Detention of vehicles.
233. Duty of owners to obtain information as to drivers and conductors.
234. Recovery of damages for injury to highway bridge.
235. Power of Commissioner to decide questions as to classification of motor vehicles.
236. Certificate of examination to be admissible evidence.
237. Procedure for making regulations.
238. Application of Act to persons and motor vehicles of the Government of Sri Lanka.
239. Protection of public interests.
239A. Provisions relating to stage carriage permits not to apply to omnibuses or hiring cars used for the purpose of providing regular or occasional omnibus services or hiring car services by the Regional Transport Boards.
239B. Prohibition of grant of stage carriage permits for regular omnibus services.
239C. Removal of difficulties.
239D. Offences to be cognizable.
239E. Offences tribal by Magistrate’s Court.
PART XIII
INTERPRETATION
240. Interpretation.
PART XIV
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
241. Transitional provisions.
SCHEDULES
22 of 1973,
7 of 1974,
12 of 1975,
19 of 1978,
14 of 1951,
1 of 1952,
29 of 1953,
22 of 1955,
1 of 1956,
7 of 1957,
48 of 1957,
43 of 1958,
63 of 1961,
35 of 1962,
2 of 1963,
39 of 1964,
3 of 1966,
20 of 1968,
47 of 1968,
38 of 1971,
31 of 1979,
21 of 1981,
47 of 1983,
40 of 1984,
8 of 1990,
37 of 1991,
44 of 1992,
5 of 1998,
12 of 2005,
8 of 2009,
18 of 2017,
10 of 2019.
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