About 678,000 driving licences are waiting to be printed, officials of the Department of Motor Traffic have told a parliamentary oversight committee, which has ordered a formal investigation into the delays.
Officials gave the figure to Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, Newswire reported.
The backlog is still growing
Current daily printing capacity stands at roughly 4,600 licences, which officials said is not enough to keep pace — leaving the backlog to continue growing rather than shrink.
Two new printing machines are expected to be installed by 15 October, which would lift daily capacity to around 8,200 licences, close to double the present rate.
The committee’s response
The committee, chaired by MP S.M. Marikkar, ordered a formal investigation into delays in issuing both driving licences and vehicle number plates.
Officials were instructed to submit a comprehensive report within 45 days covering how the delays began, the administrative and technical factors involved, and the relevant tender and procurement processes.
The committee also pressed for better equipment and technical facilities at the department, and for measures to stop similar delays recurring in other public services.
Number plates
On the related number-plate backlog, officials said plates are now being issued within 14 days for vehicles registered after 10 March 2026. LankaNewz reported earlier on the commitment to clear the number-plate backlog within six months.
Delays at the Department of Motor Traffic have been raised repeatedly in recent years, with earlier backlog figures reported at different points in the queue. The 678,000 figure given to the committee refers specifically to licences awaiting printing.
