Road signs in Sri Lanka
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
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Curve to left
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Curve to right
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Double curve, first to left
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Double curve, first to right
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Steep descent
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Steep ascent
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Road narrows
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Road narrows on left side
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Road narrows on right side
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Drawbridge
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Quayside or riverbank
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Uneven road
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Bump
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Dip
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Slippery road
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Loose gravel
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Falling rocks
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Pedestrian crossing
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Children
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Cyclists
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Animals
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Wild animals
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Roadworks
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Traffic light
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Intersection with a secondary road
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Intersection with a side road at right angles
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Joining a side road at right angles to the left
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Joining a side road at right angles to the right
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Stop sign ahead
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Give way ahead
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Two-way traffic
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Roundabout
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Level crossing with barriers ahead
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Level crossing without barriers ahead
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Single track level crossing
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Multi-track level crossing
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Soft verges
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Fog
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Accident
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Other dangers
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Tunnel
Regulatory signs
Prohibitory signs
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No entry
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All vehicles prohibited
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No motor vehicles, except motorcycles
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No trucks
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No trailers
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No trailers
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No tractors
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No motorcycles
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No mopeds
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No bicycles
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No animal-drawn vehicles
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No handcarts
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No pedestrians
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No motor vehicles
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Maximum length
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Minimum safe distance
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No left turn
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No right turn
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No u-turn
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No overtaking
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No overtaking by trucks
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No horns
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No parking
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No parking and standing
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No parking on odd-numbered days
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No parking on even-numbered days
Restrictive signs
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Width limit
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Height Limit
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Weight Limit
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Weight Limit on One Axle
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Maximum speed limit (vehicles within built-up areas except for 3 wheelers and land vehicles)
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Maximum speed limit (light vehicles outside built-up areas)
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Maximum speed limit (heavy vehicles in non built-up areas)
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Maximum speed limit (3 wheelers and land vehicles in built-up and non built-up areas)
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Maximum speed limit (all vehicles within school areas and hospitals)
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Maximum speed limit ends
Mandatory signs
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Proceed straight
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Turn left ahead
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Turn right ahead
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Turn left
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Turn right
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Pass onto left
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Pass onto right
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Roundabout
Priority signs
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Give way
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Priority road
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End of priority road
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Give way to oncoming traffic
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Priority over oncoming traffic
Additional panels
Additional panels to be used with regulatory signs
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School (supplementing a regulatory sign)
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5.00 am - 9.00 pm (supplementing a regulatory sign)
Directional informative signs
National highways
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Exit ramp
Provincial roads
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Beginning of an administrative area
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Confirming distances
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Direction sign
Expressways
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Motorway
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End of motorway
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Expressway
Other signs useful for drivers
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Pedestrian crossing
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One-way street
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Cul-de-sac
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Parking
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Telephone
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Emergency telephone
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Petrol station
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Restaurant
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Light refreshment
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Caravan site
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Youth hostel
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Swimming pool
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First aid
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Hospital
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Living street
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End of living street
Road markings
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Overtaking line
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Warning line
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Pedestrian crossing
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Cycle crossing
Traffic light signals
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Red traffic light
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Red & yellow traffic light
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Green traffic light
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Yellow traffic light
Light signals for pedestrians
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Light signals for pedestrians
See also
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ Ministry of Highways and Development; Road Development Authority (August 2007). Manual on Traffic Control Devices Part I. Retrieved 31 October 2025 – via Scribd.