Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Sri Lanka: 8 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.
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Tick before you go
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Recognition permit required alongside IDP
Foreign or international driving permits are not directly valid; you must obtain a temporary local recognition permit from the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) or Department of Motor Traffic on arrival, costing around LKR 4,000-5,000 (EUR 12-15).
1949 Geneva IDP
Sri Lanka recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; bring this together with your UK/EU photocard licence, as the 1968 Vienna permit is not the accepted version locally.
Passport and visa (ETA)
Carry your passport and pre-approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at all times; police checkpoints are common and may request ID.
Drive on the left
Traffic drives on the left, British-style, with right-hand-drive vehicles and roundabouts taken clockwise.
Speed limits
Expressway 100 km/h, rural roads 70 km/h (80 km/h for cars on some A-roads), and urban areas 50 km/h; limits are strictly enforced by police speed guns.
BAC alcohol limit 0.08 g/L
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/100 mL (80 mg), but enforcement is harsh and the FCDO advises not drinking any alcohol before driving.
Expressway tolls (E01/E02/E03)
The Southern, Outer Circular and Colombo-Katunayake expressways use ticket-and-pay toll plazas; a full Colombo to Matara run on the E01 costs roughly LKR 700-1,000 (EUR 2-3), paid in cash in LKR only.
Seatbelts and no handheld phone
Front seatbelts are mandatory and using a handheld mobile phone while driving is prohibited, with on-the-spot fines from police.
Foreign or international driving permits are not directly valid; you must obtain a temporary local recognition permit from the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) or Department of Motor Traffic on arrival, costing around LKR 4,000-5,000 (EUR 12-15).
Sri Lanka recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; bring this together with your UK/EU photocard licence, as the 1968 Vienna permit is not the accepted version locally.
Carry your passport and pre-approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at all times; police checkpoints are common and may request ID.
Verify your rental agreement includes third-party liability and a low excess; UK/EU green cards are not valid here and your home motor policy will not cover you.
Traffic drives on the left, British-style, with right-hand-drive vehicles and roundabouts taken clockwise.
Expressway 100 km/h, rural roads 70 km/h (80 km/h for cars on some A-roads), and urban areas 50 km/h; limits are strictly enforced by police speed guns.
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/100 mL (80 mg), but enforcement is harsh and the FCDO advises not drinking any alcohol before driving.
Expect unpredictable overtaking, wandering livestock, and three-wheeler tuk-tuks weaving through traffic; the FCDO specifically warns against self-driving and recommends hiring a local driver.
Front seatbelts are mandatory and using a handheld mobile phone while driving is prohibited, with on-the-spot fines from police.
Dial 119 for police, 110 for ambulance/fire; the Automobile Association of Ceylon offers limited roadside assistance on +94 11 2421528.
The Southern, Outer Circular and Colombo-Katunayake expressways use ticket-and-pay toll plazas; a full Colombo to Matara run on the E01 costs roughly LKR 700-1,000 (EUR 2-3), paid in cash in LKR only.
There is no legal requirement for hi-vis vests, warning triangles or first aid kits, but a torch, water and a basic kit are sensible given roadside breakdowns.
Avoid driving during the southwest monsoon (May-September) and northeast monsoon (December-February) when flash floods and landslides close roads, especially around Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella.
Currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR); petrol (Octane 92) is around LKR 310-340 per litre (EUR 0.95-1.05), and fuel stations are overwhelmingly cash-only outside Colombo.
Declare cash equivalent to USD 15,000 or more on arrival; tipping fuel attendants is not expected, though rounding up is appreciated.
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Don't get caught out
Traffic drives on the left, British-style, with right-hand-drive vehicles and roundabouts taken clockwise.
Expressway 100 km/h, rural roads 70 km/h (80 km/h for cars on some A-roads), and urban areas 50 km/h; limits are strictly enforced by police speed guns.
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/100 mL (80 mg), but enforcement is harsh and the FCDO advises not drinking any alcohol before driving.
Front seatbelts are mandatory and using a handheld mobile phone while driving is prohibited, with on-the-spot fines from police.