The Department of Motor Traffic expects to clear its backlog of unissued vehicle number plates within six months, after which newly registered vehicles should receive plates within seven days, the department’s newly appointed Commissioner General said at a media briefing in Colombo.
Vice Marshal (Retd.) Thushara Idunil Fernando said about 62,000 number plates have been printed since 10 March 2026, and owners have been told to collect them.
What is still outstanding
A further 32,000 printed plates relating to vehicles registered in 2023 and 2024 are still held at the department. A separate contract covering the backlog from 2025 registrations is due to be signed next week, Fernando said.
Only once that printing is complete and departmental records are updated does the six-month clock he described run out. The seven-day issuance standard applies after that, to newly registered vehicles — not to owners currently waiting.
Neither report says how many vehicles remain without plates in total, what the printing contracts cost, who holds them, or why plates for vehicles registered three years ago have not reached their owners. Nor does either give a reason for the backlog forming.
Context
Plate issuance has been a recurring source of friction between the department and vehicle owners. On 6 September an electric vehicle owner reported that traffic police did not recognise the new green number plate issued for EVs, and in May the department said it would blacklist vehicles ignoring smoke emission orders in connection with revenue licence renewals.
A note on the name
Daily Mirror gives the Commissioner General’s name as Vice Marshal (Retd.) Thushara Idunil Fernando; Hiru News writes it as Tushara Fernando. Both refer to the same briefing and the same official. Neither spells out the service branch behind the rank.
