How to get Sri Lanka Driving License for Foreign Tourists?

Sri Lanka is one of  Asia's most beautiful tourist destinations, with many tourist attractions such as a mild climate, attractive Beaches, Waterfalls, Wildlife, Natural parks, a beautiful mountainous environment, and tourist destinations of historical importance. Therefore, from the southern part of Sri Lanka to the northern part, you can add a lot of tourist destinations with different environmental zones and cultures to your travel destination.

Traveling in Sri Lanka alone in a group as a tourist without a local tour guide or driver will be a freer and the best experience. Accordingly, you will be allowed to travel to the tourist destinations of your choice in Sri Lanka as you wish without going on the recommendations of any external party. If you wish to travel in Sri Lanka without a tour guide or an experienced local driver, you will need a valid Sri Lanka driving license. 

A valid driver's license is mandatory for driving in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, Police Transport Division, conducts traffic checks on major roads across Sri Lanka to ensure that it is functioning properly. Driving in Sri Lanka without a valid driving license is illegal, and driving without a Sri Lanka driving license will get you into a lot of trouble during your trip.

 

Not to worry, the process of getting a driving license in Sri Lanka is short, and depending on your driving ability, it will be easier.

How to get a Sri Lanka Driving license for Foreign tourists

1st Method

The first way is to get a temporary driving license to Sri Lanka. In this method, you can get a temporary driving license in Sri Lanka by presenting the driver's license obtained in your country of residence.

Here the process will be easier if your foreign driving license is in English. If your foreign driver's license is in a language other than English, a translation document for your driver's license will be required from the relevant country's embassy or other recognized authority.

You must go to an office of the Sri Lanka Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain a temporary driving license to drive in Sri Lanka. 

For that, you can easily get the related work very quickly by going to the Werahera Motor Transport Department office located near Colombo city.

You can reach this Werahera Motor Transport Department office at a distance of about 16 km from the Colombo pettah bus stand and after a journey of approximately three and a half hours. If you wish to reach this DMV office by public transport buses, you can come by Horana-Colombo (120) buses.

Werahera DMT office is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. But before you get there, it's important to pay attention to the holidays and the latest announcements from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

You will need the following documents to obtain a provisionally valid driving license in Sri Lanka.

• Valid driving license of your country of residence ( English translation of driver's license if not in English ) and Photocopy
• Your National passport and Visa Documents
• Medical Report obtained from National Transport Medical Institute of Sri Lanka

HINT: A branch of Sri Lanka's National Transport Medical Institute is located at the Werahera Motor Transport Department office to obtain the Medical Report.

Also, while getting a temporary valid driving license in Sri Lanka, you have to pay the required amount for the number of months you are applying for. This process of getting you a temporary driving license in Sri Lanka will usually take an hour or so. So it is advisable to carry a water bottle.

DMV werahera Contact Number:0112 518 950

DMV Official Website: Dmt.gov.lk

(Source information Sri Lanka Motor Transport Department)

2nd Method

The second way you can get a license to drive in Sri Lanka is to get it endorsed in Sri Lanka if you have an International Driving Permit. To get your international driver's license approved in Sri Lanka, you must go to the Sri Lanka Automobile Association. 

The office of the Sri Lanka Automobile Association is located near the Galle Fase ground and the office is open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. Generally, expedited service is available at the AAC office and the fees are approximately RS 3000 - 4000.

Automobile Association Sri Lanka website

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