News
New supplier to begin issuing licence plates
With nearly 400,000 official vehicle licence plates well overdue, the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) is preparing to resume issuance following Cabinet approval to award the task to a private firm, Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Kamal Amarasinghe said.
South Asian Technologies (Pvt) Ltd has been selected to produce and issue licence plates, paving the way to clear a vast backlog that has frustrated vehicle owners across the country for months. It is a five-year contract.
Riding side by side: Unofficial number plate (left) and official number plate (right). Pic by Dilushi Wijesinghe
The Cabinet has allowed the company three months to begin operations, Mr. Amarasinghe said.
“The company has already begun its initial work process,” he told the Sunday Times, adding that the DMT has instructed the firm to start issuing licence plates soon. “We expect the issuance of number plates to begin within the next three months,” he said.
The backlog has caused significant inconvenience to vehicle owners, particularly those who have completed the registration process, but are unable to get permanent licence plates.
In many instances, motorists have been compelled to rely on temporary plates for long periods, raising concerns over enforcement, identification, and compliance with traffic regulations.
Police Media Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler clarified that motorists using printed paper licence plates in place of official government-issued plates will not be treated as violating the law, given the prevailing shortage.
He said that officers have been instructed to exercise flexibility. “At present, this cannot be considered a traffic violation,” ASP Wootler said, noting that steps are already under way to regularise issuance, with officials hopeful that the situation will be resolved in the coming weeks.
However, he stressed that vehicle numbers must be clearly visible at all times. Motorists using temporary paper plates have been advised to ensure that the correct registration number is prominently displayed to allow identification by law enforcement officers and in the event of emergencies. “The key requirement is visibility,” ASP Wootler said.
Responding to concerns about variations in temporary plates, he said that printed paper plates are expected to follow a standard format, typically with a white background.
While there have been instances where numbers were not sufficiently visible, he said such cases were addressed through warnings and instructions to replace or rectify the display.
Vehicles using temporary plates are subject to checks to ensure the displayed number corresponds with the registration details.
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