Eligibility / Requirements to Obtaining a New Driving License
- Applicant being a citizen of Sri Lanka
- Applicant being over 18 years of age
- Sitting for a written test and a practical examinations
- Produce with a certification of identity at both written and practical examinations
- Passing of both above examinations
- Provide with all the documents required within the process (please refer to the section: “Documents Required”)
- Duration between the submission of the application and the practical test, been less than six months
Note: Any applicant who is not able to meet with above conditions will be considered disqualified from obtaining the service.
Documents Required to Obtaining a New Driving License
For Light Vehicles
- The original and a photocopy of the Birth Certificate
- National Identity Card / Original and a photocopy of a valid Passport, containing NIC number
- Three copies of black and white photos of size: 2x2
- Medical certification, from a MBBS certified Medical Officer
For Heavy Vehicles
- The original and a photocopy of the Birth Certificate
- National Identity Card / Original and a photocopy of a valid Passport, containing NIC number
- Three copies of black and white photos of size: 2x2 ”
- A Medical Certification issued by the C.T.B Medical Institute, Nugegoda or by Medical Officer of the applicant’s residential district
- A Certification of Competency issued by a grade “A” registered driving school
Costs / Fees Related to Obtaining a New Driving License
- Application forms provided free of charge
Fee:
Normal service
- 1 Class of Vehicles : Rs. 620.00
- 2 Class of Vehicles : Rs. 1020.00
- 3 Class of Vehicles : Rs. 1120.00
Priority service
- 1 Class of Vehicles : Rs. 1020.00
- 2 Class of Vehicles : Rs. 1770.00
- 3 Class of Vehicles : Rs. 1870.00
Penalty:
- No penalties involved in the process of issuing licenses Surcharge
- At failing on the written test, an applicant must pay Rs. 100.00 for re applying (only valid for three re-applies)
- At failing on the practical test, an applicant must make the full payment for re applying (only valid for three re-applies)
Steps of Obtaining a New Driving License
- Applicant obtains the application form from District secretarial offices (normal service) or Licensing Division, Department of Motor Traffic in Colombo (Normal & priority service)
- Applicant submits the correctly filled form directed to Assistant Commissioner, Licensing Division, Department of Motor Traffic, along with required documents to District secretarial offices (normal service) or Main office in Verahera – Colombo (priority service)
- Applicant sits for the written examination on the call of Department of Motor Traffic
- Applicant does the practical examination on the call of the Department of Motor Traffic. Pass result attained at this examination will be valid till 6 months
- Department of Motor Traffic issues the Temporary License, which is valid up to 6 months (at the point of passing the practical examination)
- Department of Motor Traffic issues the License (license will be sent to the applicant by post)
When applicant Fails the Written Examination
Applicant can re apply for the written examination by paying Rs.100.00 up to three times.
When applicant Fails the Practical Examination
Applicant can re apply for the practical examination by making the full payment up to three times.
Application Submission Procedure
All the applications should be directed to the assistant commissioner of the Licensing Division
Assistant Commissioner, Licensing Division,
Department of Motor Traffic,
P.O Box 533, 581-341, Elvitigala Mawatha,
Colombo 5.
Applicants are given the facility of obtaining licenses through
- All district secretarial offices (normal service)
- Main office of Department of Motor Traffic at Verahera Colombo (Normal & priority service)
Time Line to Obtaining a New Driving License
Process Timeline
- Ppriority service : License issued within 1 week
- Normal service : License issued within 2 week - 3 months
Obtaining & Submitting Application Forms
- Working days Mondays to Fridays
- Counter open hours 9:30 am to 3:30 pm (Normal)
- Counter open hours 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Priority)
- Holidays All Public and Mercantile Days
Validity of the application expires if the practical examination is performed after 6 months of submitting the application
Special Cases
When Applicant is not able to Read or Write
- He/she must sit three times for the written examination
- Obtain a certification letter from the Grama Niladhari
- Apply for a verbal examination in substitution of the written examination
When Applicant Fails the Practical Examination and If He has Applied for a License of Heavy Duty Vehicles, Applicant is not allowed to re-apply for the practical examination within 14 days
When Applicant Applied for a License of a Light Vehicles, Applicant is not allowed to re-apply for the practical examination within 7 days
If the Applicant is an Owner of a Driving License from a Foreign Country (Applicant being either Sri Lankan or Non Sri Lankan)
- He/she can obtain the license without going through either written or practical examinations by producing the foreign license
- Country, which is the issuer of the license should be approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles
- An English translation of the license issued by the relevant embassy, if the license in not in English
- Documents required and costs involved at such occasions will be same as at obtaining a new license
