The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to introduce a formal vehicle fitness inspection system for passenger transport services following investigations that linked several recent serious road accidents to technical defects in vehicles.
According to the Government, investigations carried out by motor vehicle inspectors found that many of the recent major road accidents were caused by mechanical and technical failures.
The new inspection system will apply to passenger transport services, school transport vehicles, office transport services and special tour vehicles operating on hire under the National Transport Commission (NTC), Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities and the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).
To provide the necessary legal framework, the Motor Vehicles (Inspection) Regulations No. 03 of 2026 were published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2489/22 dated 19 May 2026, under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act (Chapter 203).
The regulations are scheduled to be presented to Parliament for approval.
The proposal, submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, has received the full approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.
