Police announce the traffic plan for vehicles coming to Galle Face to celebrate the dawn of the new year 2026.

The Police Media Division has announced that the Sri Lanka Police has made arrangements to implement a special traffic and security plan centered around Colombo city and the Galle Face area to celebrate the dawn of the New Year 2026. This step has been taken to minimize potential traffic congestion and ensure public safety, as a large number of people and vehicles from outstation areas are expected to arrive in Colombo city, especially the Galle Face area, to celebrate the New Year's Eve on December 31, 2025.

Due to this festive season, heavy traffic congestion is expected, especially within the police divisions of Colombo Fort, Pettah, Slave Island, Maradana, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya, and Cinnamon Gardens.

However, on December 31st, normal traffic movement will be allowed within these police divisions, and a special traffic plan will be implemented only if severe congestion occurs. If this special plan is activated, vehicles exiting Colombo via Galle Road (Galle Meda Para) must enter Galle Road from the NSA Roundabout, turn left at the Baladaksha Mawatha junction (MOD Junction), and proceed along Baladaksha Mawatha, Aliya Nana Roundabout, and M.A. Macan Markar Mawatha to the Galle Face Roundabout, then continue towards Kollupitiya. Vehicles entering Colombo from the Galle Face Roundabout via Galle Road will be allowed to proceed up to the Baladaksha Mawatha junction and beyond. However, vehicles will not be permitted to travel from the Galle Face Roundabout towards the Aliya Nana Roundabout via M.A. Macan Markar Mawatha, or from the Aliya Nana Roundabout towards Galle Road via Baladaksha Mawatha. The police further state that vehicles coming from the by-roads of Baladaksha Mawatha must turn right and exit at the Aliya Nana Roundabout, and vehicles entering Galle Road from by-roads must turn right and proceed towards the NSA Roundabout.

During this period, parking vehicles on pavements or in a manner that obstructs main roads in Colombo city is strictly prohibited, and legal action will be taken against drivers who violate these rules. Nearly 1200 police officers are planned to be deployed for these traffic and security duties, and parking facilities have been provided for approximately 5900 vehicles arriving in Colombo.

Free parking locations where no fees will be charged for vehicles have been designated as the MOD Car Park on Baladaksha Mawatha in Fort, the coastal road from Kollupitiya to Wellawatte, D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha, the exit lane of Parsons Road in Slave Island, and parking bays on Galle Road from Savoy, Wellawatte to Bagatalle Road junction. Additionally, within the Cinnamon Gardens police division, the left lane entering from Nelum Pokuna Roundabout towards Library Roundabout on Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, F.R. Senanayake Mawatha, the right side of Reid Avenue from Reid Duty Junction to Reid-Thurstan Junction, the right side of Independence Avenue from Independence Roundabout to Independence Square, Maitland Place, and Padanama Ayathanaya Road also provide unobstructed parking opportunities.

For paid parking, the following locations have been designated: Old Manning Market Complex Car Park on Bastian Mawatha, Pettah; the car park near Wimaladharma Clock Tower, Fort; Hemas Car Park on Razik Fareed Mawatha; Lake House Car Park on D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha; Leyden Bastian Mawatha, Bristol Street, and Duke Street in Fort. The police also inform the public that Access Tower Car Park at the Dawson Street junction, Union Place, Slave Island, and St. Clement Car Park at Gamini Roundabout, Maradana, can be used for paid parking.