Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced that seat belt regulations will be strictly enforced across the country, with a deadline set for 30 September on all expressways.

Speaking at the Galle District Transport Committee meeting, the Minister said that permits for buses failing to comply with the law will be revoked. He emphasised that although the seat belt law has existed since 2011, it has rarely been enforced.

Citing alarming statistics of 2,350 road deaths and 6,000 serious injuries annually, Rathnayake introduced the new ‘Road Safety Plan’ for 2025 and 2026. He expressed hope that proper enforcement of seat belt use could bring the death toll down to 2,000.