November 20, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government has announced a sweeping revision of the charges applied to driving licences issued to foreign nationals, marking one of the most significant adjustments to the fee structure in recent years.
The updated rates were formalised through a newly issued gazette by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake.
Under the revised scheme, the cost of a short-term one-month licence for visitors has leapt from the earlier Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 15,000 — a change officials say reflects the need to modernise administrative processes and ensure parity with international standards.
Longer-term permits have also seen substantial increases: licences valid for up to two months will now cost Rs. 21,000, while those extending to six months have been priced at Rs. 30,000. A twelve-month temporary permit for a foreign national will now set applicants back Rs. 45,000.
Renewals and replacements will come with uniform charges too, with both procedures fixed at Rs. 15,000. Ministry sources indicate that these revisions are intended to streamline processing while discouraging misuse of temporary credentials.
In a parallel move, Sri Lankans returning with foreign-issued driving licences will face a considerably higher fee for the issuance of a local licence — an increase from Rs. 3,300 to Rs. 30,000.
Foreign nationals seeking to convert an overseas licence into a Sri Lankan one will encounter an even steeper adjustment, with the charge rising from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 60,000.
