What permit do you need to drive in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka drives on the left, and the US State Department notes that visitors generally do not drive. Those who do need a Sri Lankan document on top of their home licence. There are two routes, run by different bodies.
Recognition permit through AA Ceylon
The UK government's Sri Lanka travel advice says you need a 1949 International Driving Permit and a Sri Lankan "recognition permit" to drive a hire car. You take your licence, IDP and two passport photos to the Automobile Association of Ceylon at 40 Sir Mohamed Macan Markar Mawatha, Colombo 3, which checks them and issues the permit. Hire companies often help with the process.
The IDP must come from your home country before you travel. The UK advice stresses that you cannot buy one outside the UK, and AA Ceylon's own IDP page deals only with permits for Sri Lankan licence holders going abroad.
Permit agents also apply on your behalf. Rento's FAQ, read 23 September 2026, charges USD 45 for an AA Ceylon permit (USD 48 with delivery), says permits issued against an IDP are valid for 12 months, and says that since 2025 AA Ceylon issues the permit only on the basis of an IDP. It lists AA Ceylon's head office hours as 8:00 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays. These are an agent's statements, not AA Ceylon's, so confirm the fee if you go in person.
Temporary licence from the Department of Motor Traffic
The DMT issues a temporary driving licence to foreign visitors under section 132 of the Motor Traffic Act. Its internal circular 2022/14 says the licence lasts for five months or the rest of your visa, whichever is shorter. Your home licence must come from a 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna convention country or a SAARC country, must be a full licence (not a learner or probationary one), and must be valid for at least a year. The circular covers cars (class B) and motorcycles (class A) only.
The fees are set in the DMT's levy schedule (Gazette 2306/02 of 14 November 2022, still listed in September 2026):
| Validity of temporary licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to one month | Rs 15,000 |
| One to two months | Rs 21,000 |
| Two to six months | Rs 30,000 |
| Six to twelve months | Rs 45,000 |
The circular's five-month cap means the top band is unlikely to apply to a tourist.
Which route fits your trip
| Your situation | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You already hold a 1949 IDP | AA Ceylon recognition permit | UK government's stated route; agents deliver it |
| No IDP, licence from a Geneva or Vienna country | DMT temporary licence | Does not depend on an IDP |
| Licence is a learner or probationary type | Neither; hire a driver | The DMT circular excludes these licences |
| Short trip, long distances, first visit | Car with driver | No permit, no expressway or city driving |
| Want to ride a scooter too | Check your permit covers class A | Licence classes carry over |
Should you self-drive or hire a driver in Sri Lanka?
With a driver, you need no Sri Lankan permit, as Rento's FAQ points out, and you avoid Colombo traffic, which the US State Department describes as congested, with narrow two-lane highways. The UK advice warns that driving is erratic and road accidents frequent, especially at night.
Self-drive gives more freedom but adds the permit, a deposit and responsibility for fines. Rento, as one example of published self-drive terms, takes a refundable USD 300 deposit at handover. Damage of USD 60 or less is not covered by the insurance and comes from the deposit; larger at-fault damage costs the insurance excess shown on the booking. Only named drivers may drive, and extra distance beyond the booked limit costs USD 0.50 per km.
How do you pay expressway tolls from Colombo?
Sri Lanka's expressways are run by the Road Development Authority's EOM&M Division. On the Southern, Outer Circular and Central expressways, you take a ticket at the entry gate and pay at the exit, according to the RDA user guide. Payment is by cash, card or LankaQR app.
Car tolls on common routes
Category 1 covers two-axle, four-wheel vehicles, which the RDA describes as all cars, jeeps and vans up to six seats. These fares come from the RDA toll table, taken from the gazette of 17 December 2025.
| From | To | Car toll |
|---|---|---|
| Katunayake (airport) | Peliyagoda (Colombo) | Rs 400 |
| Katunayake | Kottawa | Rs 400 |
| Kottawa | Pinnaduwa (Galle) | Rs 500 |
| Katunayake | Pinnaduwa (Galle) | Rs 800 |
| Kottawa | Godagama-Palatuwa (Matara) | Rs 650 |
| Katunayake | Godagama-Palatuwa (Matara) | Rs 900 |
Worked example: airport to Galle and back
A self-drive car collected near the airport heads straight to Galle and returns a week later. Tolls are Rs 800 each way, Rs 1,600 in total, paid at Pinnaduwa and Katunayake. Keep the entry ticket: the RDA FAQ says a lost ticket is charged as if you had driven from the start of the expressway.
The same trip with a driver has no permit cost; with self-drive, a DMT temporary licence adds Rs 15,000 for up to a month, or the recognition permit about USD 45 through an agent, on top of the rental.
Expressway rules
- The limit is 100 km/h, and 60 km/h on entry and exit ramps.
- The RDA FAQ says police who record you above 100 km/h hand you a fine sheet at your exit.
- Use the outer lane; the inner lane is for overtaking only.
- Three-wheelers are not allowed.
- No U-turns or reversing. If you miss your exit, drive to the next interchange.
- For breakdowns and accidents, call 1969. Towing off the expressway costs Rs 2,500, paid at the exit.
How do you pay a traffic fine in Sri Lanka?
For fines not sent to court, an officer writes a fine sheet and holds your driving licence until the fine is paid. The government's GovPay service lets drivers pay through Sri Lankan banking and fintech apps, after which the officer gets a confirmation SMS and hands the licence back.
For how the island's roads and railways fit together when you plan the journey, see Sri Lanka's road and rail structure and trip pacing.