A public outcry has emerged over allegations that the Department of Motor Traffic (RMV) office in Werahera is imposing an illegal 1% surcharge on credit and debit card payments, in apparent violation of Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) regulations.
The accusation surfaced on social media, where a widely shared post included a photograph of a notice at the RMV's payment counter. The sign, written in Sinhala, notifies customers of an additional 1% fee for payments made using VISA or Mastercard.
The complaint comes just days after the CBSL reaffirmed that merchants are strictly prohibited from passing on transaction fees to customers. During a press briefing last month (July), CBSL Director of Payments and Settlements, K.K. Alwis, highlighted that such surcharges contravene agreements between merchants and acquiring banks.
The revelation has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning how a government institution could continue to flout regulations designed to protect consumers.
Sri Lanka processes over 1.6 million digital transactions daily, including approximately 800,000 card-based payments, according to the CBSL. Clear and consistent enforcement of payment policies is seen as essential to maintaining public trust in digital transactions