Fee to obtain new driving license increased: Transport Minister

• Explores QR code for driving license amid material and forex shortage

Transport and Highways Minister Bandula Gunawardena

An Extraordinary Gazette notification has been issued revising the levy imposed on driving licenses, by Transport and Highways Minister Bandula Gunawardena. 

Based on the new Gazette, fees to obtain a new driving license, renew or extend the validity period of a driving license, and the payment to convert the existing driving license into a new driving license, have been increased.

The Minister has amended the regulations under Section 237 read with Sections 44, 123, 124, 125, 126, 126B, 128, 132, 132 A, and 231 of the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203).

Thus, the Driving Licence (Levy) Regulations, No. 01 of 2009 published in the Gazette Extraordinary on 26 March 2009 have been rescinded.

As per the new Gazette notification, the application fee for a learner’s permit and a new driving license for one class will be Rs. 2,500 under normal service, whilst the same-day service will be Rs. 3,500.

The fee for two classes at the same time will now be Rs. 3,000 under normal service and Rs. 4,000 for same-day service. 

The revised driving license fees for the normal and the same-day service were issued via the Gazette.

Separately, Minister Gunawardena who is also the Cabinet Co-Spokesman said that the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday discussed the introduction of a new card with a QR code instead of the driver’s license with memory chip.

“We are facing difficulties to import printing materials due to the foreign exchange shortage Hence, I have proposed to the Cabinet to introduce a QR code based or a digitalised method to provide the drivers licenses. It was decided to seek expert advice and conduct a feasibility study on how QR code system or a digital method can be introduced in the driving licence going forward,”he said.

Previously, these cards were imported from Austria with payments made in Euros. But given the acute shortage of foreign currency reserves, the import of these cards has stopped. Therefore, the Department of Motor Transport is only issuing a document for licences at present.

Over 750,000 people have obtained driver’s licenses, and their identity and driveable vehicle categories and validity periods are recorded on a memory chip similar to a chip on a driver’s license.