The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has temporarily suspended the issuance of number plates for newly registered vehicles due to a reported shortage in supply, the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Kamal Amarasinghe, announced yesterday (16).
The suspension, which has been in effect since April 28, 2025, impacts all new vehicle registrations, including those using chassis numbers. While the registration process itself remains active, vehicle owners will not receive physical number plates or official stickers at the time of registration.
Despite this interruption, the DMT has confirmed that newly registered vehicles will still be assigned official registration numbers. Commissioner General Amarasinghe advised owners to temporarily display these numbers by manually copying them onto their vehicles.
“Vehicle owners will be issued a registration number as usual, but they will need to write this number on the vehicle temporarily until official plates are available,” Amarasinghe explained.
The DMT has also taken steps to inform law enforcement authorities of the temporary measure. Amarasinghe confirmed that the police have been notified of the current shortage and the interim display method, ensuring that vehicle owners are not penalised for non-standard number plates during this period.
No timeline has been provided for when the regular issuance of number plates will resume. The DMT has not disclosed the reasons behind the shortage, but internal sources suggest delays in procurement and logistical challenges may be contributing factors.
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