Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Sri Lanka

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Sri Lanka — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

left

Driving Side

steering wheel on the right

0.06

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

100

Motorway Limit

km/h

required

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

50 km/h

Rural / Open Road

70 km/h

Motorway / Highway

100 km/h

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Sri Lanka

General limit: 0.06 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Sri Lanka can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Sri Lanka on the Live Map

Sri Lanka has a WHO-estimated 12.5 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Sri Lanka.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Sri Lanka's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Maldives India Bangladesh Myanmar Nepal Malaysia

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Sri Lanka drive on?

Sri Lanka drives on the left-hand side of the road (like the UK, Japan and Australia).

What is the drink-driving limit in Sri Lanka?

The general limit is 0.06 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Sri Lanka?

Yes — an IDP (or a locally issued permit) is required or strongly enforced for foreign visitors driving in Sri Lanka. Get one in your home country before you travel.

Is it safe to drive in Sri Lanka?

By the numbers, Sri Lanka has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 12.5 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is close to the global average — it ranks 111 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the left, which takes getting used to if you normally drive on the right. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.