Sri Lanka will launch its first digital motor insurance card on May 1, the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development announced on Friday.
The digital card will replace the existing plastic motor insurance card carried by drivers as proof of cover. The ministry said the move was part of a broader push toward national digitalisation and would also reduce plastic waste.
The card will be rolled out in collaboration with the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL), the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) and the Sri Lanka Police.
The launch coincides with another structural change to motor insurance taking effect on the same date. Under a separate IRCSL directive, insurers will move to a strict cash-before-cover model from May 1, ending the practice of issuing policies before premiums are received in full.
Together, the two May 1 changes mark the most significant overhaul of motor insurance administration in Sri Lanka in several years — shifting both the proof-of-cover format and the payment model on the same day.
The Finance Ministry has not yet released technical details on how the digital card will be issued, verified at roadside checks, or integrated with police traffic systems. Further guidance is expected from IRCSL and the police closer to the launch date.
Sri Lanka has been gradually digitising vehicle-related government services, including driving licence renewals and revenue licence payments through the LankaQR system. The motor insurance card is the latest physical document to be moved into a digital-first format.
