The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways, and Urban Development has approved two Extraordinary Gazette Notifications issued under the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203). This approval includes the Regulations concerning the revision of fees for driving licenses, as published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2463/04, and the Regulations related to the extension of the validity period of driving licenses, as detailed in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2467/52.

This decision was made during a meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee held in Parliament on February 17, 2026, under the leadership of Minister Bimal Rathnayake. Deputy Ministers Dr. Prasanna Gunasena and Eranga Gunasekara were also in attendance.

During the meeting, reports from two Sub-Committees, established to identify solutions to challenges within the transport sector, were presented. The Sub-Committee tasked with ensuring the professional security of workers in the informal transport sector was led by Deputy Minister H.M. Dinindu Saman Hennayake. Their recommendations include providing Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) contributions for private bus drivers, conductors, three-wheeler drivers, and app-based workers in the transport sector.

The second Sub-Committee, which focused on developing business models for creating additional services linked to the transport industry, was headed by Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe. The Chair of the Ministerial Consultative Committee expressed an intention to carefully review these reports and consider implementing their recommendations.

Furthermore, Members of Parliament highlighted various deficiencies in transport services and road development projects across the country. The meeting saw participation from Deputy Ministers and several Members of Parliament, representing both the government and the opposition.