Thousands of vehicle owners who have been waiting for months for their number plates may finally see progress, as the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) resumes vehicle number plate printing operations on Monday (08th June).
The program was launched at the DMT premises in Werahera under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Mr. Prasanna Gunasena.
The resumption comes after vehicle number plate printing remained suspended for more than a year, creating a large backlog of unissued plates.
Backlog Reaches 600,000 Plates
According to Deputy Minister Gunasena, the suspension was due to delays in procurement procedures for awarding the printing contract.
Following technical evaluations and approval processes, the contract was finalized, allowing printing operations to recommence.
During the period of suspension, a backlog of approximately 600,000 number plates accumulated.
The Deputy Minister said that “since the contract was awarded, a substantial portion of the backlog has already been addressed. However, around 150,000 vehicle number plates still remain to be printed and issued”.
The contracted company has been tasked with completing the remaining work as quickly as possible.
Relief for Vehicle Owners
For vehicle owners awaiting number plates, the restart of printing operations is expected to ease a long-standing inconvenience.
Authorities expressed confidence that the remaining backlog can be cleared over the coming months.
The Deputy Minister also stated that the “current system now has the capacity to meet daily demand and issue number plates for newly registered vehicles without further delays”.
New SMS Notification System Introduced
To improve communication with vehicle owners, a new SMS notification system is also being introduced.
Under the system, vehicle owners will receive text message alerts once their number plates have been printed and dispatched.
The move is expected to reduce uncertainty for applicants while providing a more transparent process for tracking the status of pending number plates.
For thousands of motorists who have been waiting for months, the restart of printing operations signals that long-delayed number plates are finally moving towards delivery.
Ministerial Update Motor Industry
Last modified: June 9, 2026
