Enact laws related to the inspection of mechanical defects in vehicles before accidents

The Motor Vehicles (Inspection) Order No. 03 of 2026, prepared to prevent serious road accidents caused by structural and mechanical defects in passenger transport vehicles and to ensure road safety, is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament for approval. This proposal, presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, has received Cabinet approval, and the extraordinary gazette containing the relevant provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act has been published on May 19, 2026, under No. 2489/22.

Recent investigations by motor vehicle inspectors have revealed that numerous mechanical and structural defects in operational vehicles have directly contributed to many recent accidents. Addressing this situation, authorities have identified an urgent need to establish a formal and official procedure for inspecting the roadworthiness of passenger transport services, school transport services, office transport services, as well as hired vehicles used for special recreational tours.

All transport services operating under the regulation of the National Transport Commission, Provincial Passenger Transport Authorities, and the Sri Lanka Transport Board will be subject to this newly introduced inspection methodology.