Road signs in Sri Lanka

70 km/h (written incorrectly as "kmph") speed limit for light vehicles outside built-up areas. Vehicle categories are motor cars, dual purpose vehicles and motor cycles

Road signs in Sri Lanka are legally prescribed in the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203). ^[1] They are also laid out in a supplementary guide, the Manual on Traffic Control Devices, published by the Ministry of Transport and Highways and the Road Development Authority. ^[2]

Sri Lankan road signs display text in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Warning signs

• 
  Curve to left
• 
  Curve to right
• 
  Double curve, first to left
• 
  Double curve, first to right
• 
  Steep descent
• 
  Steep ascent
• 
  Road narrows
• 
  Road narrows on left side
• 
  Road narrows on right side
• 
  Drawbridge
• 
  Quayside or riverbank
• 
  Uneven road
• 
  Bump
• 
  Dip
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Loose gravel
• 
  Falling rocks
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Children
• 
  Cyclists
• 
  Animals
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  Wild animals
• 
  Roadworks
• 
  Traffic light
• 
  Intersection with a secondary road
• 
  Intersection with a side road at right angles
• 
  Joining a side road at right angles to the left
• 
  Joining a side road at right angles to the right
• 
  Stop sign ahead
• 
  Give way ahead
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Level crossing with barriers ahead
• 
  Level crossing without barriers ahead
• 
  Single track level crossing
• 
  Multi-track level crossing
• 
  Soft verges
• 
  Fog
• 
  Accident
• 
  Other dangers
• 
  Tunnel

Regulatory signs

Prohibitory signs

• 
  No entry
• 
  All vehicles prohibited
• 
  No motor vehicles, except motorcycles
• 
  No trucks
• 
  No trailers
• 
  No trailers
• 
  No tractors
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No mopeds
• 
  No bicycles
• 
  No animal-drawn vehicles
• 
  No handcarts
• 
  No pedestrians
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  Maximum length
• 
  Minimum safe distance
• 
  No left turn
• 
  No right turn
• 
  No u-turn
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  No overtaking by trucks
• 
  No horns
• 
  No parking
• 
  No parking and standing
• 
  No parking on odd-numbered days
• 
  No parking on even-numbered days

Restrictive signs

• 
  Width limit
• 
  Height Limit
• 
  Weight Limit
• 
  Weight Limit on One Axle
• 
  Maximum speed limit (vehicles within built-up areas except for 3 wheelers and land vehicles)
• 
  Maximum speed limit (light vehicles outside built-up areas)
• 
  Maximum speed limit (heavy vehicles in non built-up areas)
• 
  Maximum speed limit (3 wheelers and land vehicles in built-up and non built-up areas)
• 
  Maximum speed limit (all vehicles within school areas and hospitals)
• 
  Maximum speed limit ends

Mandatory signs

• 
  Proceed straight
• 
  Turn left ahead
• 
  Turn right ahead
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Pass onto left
• 
  Pass onto right
• 
  Roundabout

Priority signs

• 
  Stop
• 
  Give way
• 
  Priority road
• 
  End of priority road
• 
  Give way to oncoming traffic
• 
  Priority over oncoming traffic

Additional panels

Additional panels to be used with regulatory signs

• 
  School (supplementing a regulatory sign)
• 
  5.00 am - 9.00 pm (supplementing a regulatory sign)

Directional informative signs

National highways

• 
  Exit ramp

Provincial roads

• 
  Beginning of an administrative area
• 
  Confirming distances
• 
  Direction sign

Expressways

• 
  Motorway
• 
  End of motorway
• 
  Expressway

Other signs useful for drivers

• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  One-way street
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  Cul-de-sac
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  Parking
• 
  Telephone
• 
  Emergency telephone
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  Petrol station
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  Restaurant
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  Light refreshment
• 
  Caravan site
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  Youth hostel
• 
  Swimming pool
• 
  First aid
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  Hospital
• 
  Living street
• 
  End of living street

Road markings

• 
  Overtaking line
• 
  Warning line
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Cycle crossing

Traffic light signals

• 
  Red traffic light
• 
  Red & yellow traffic light
• 
  Green traffic light
• 
  Yellow traffic light

Light signals for pedestrians

• 
  Light signals for pedestrians

See also

• Transport in Sri Lanka

References

1. "The Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203)" (PDF). documents.gov.lk. The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
2. Ministry of Highways and Development; Road Development Authority (August 2007). Manual on Traffic Control Devices Part I . Retrieved 31 October 2025– via Scribd.