Sri Lanka Police has reiterated that traffic officers must accept valid digital motor-insurance cards issued by approved insurance companies and should not inconvenience motorists by refusing recognised digital proof of insurance.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety W.P.J. Senadheera said instructions on digital insurance cards had already been issued to police stations across the country.
According to the DIG, the Inspector General of Police issued instructions on May 5, 2026 for police officers to officially accept digital insurance cards issued by 14 insurance companies approved by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.
DIG Senadheera said failure by officers to follow the instructions and causing unnecessary inconvenience to motorists could amount to a serious dereliction of duty.
He said complaints had been received concerning incidents involving officers attached to the Padukka and Gampaha police stations who allegedly refused to accept digital insurance cards.
Those individual complaints should be treated as reported allegations unless and until the relevant inquiries establish what occurred.
The broader Police instruction concerning recognised digital insurance cards, however, has been confirmed by the Traffic Police leadership.
Police also says motorists' insurance status can be independently verified electronically.
According to the instructions explained by DIG Senadheera, insurance information can be checked using the policy number or vehicle registration number through the 1338 service.
Available methods include:
- dialling
*1338#; - sending an SMS to
1338; or - contacting the
1338call centre.
Police officers may use these verification methods when necessary rather than treating the absence of a physical insurance card as evidence that a vehicle is uninsured.
DIG Senadheera also said digital insurance cards have legal recognition under Sri Lanka's Electronic Transactions Act.
Police has reissued the relevant instructions through Officers-in-Charge across police stations.
Members of the public who encounter an officer refusing to accept a valid digital insurance card have been advised to complain to the Officer-in-Charge of the nearest police station or contact the Traffic Headquarters special hotline on:
070 475 5600
DIG Senadheera said disciplinary action could be taken against officers who fail to comply with the instructions.