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
-
Curve to the left -
Curve to the right -
Double curve, first to the left -
Double curve, first to the right -
Hairpin curve to the left -
Hairpin curve to the right -
Divided highway ends -
Divided highway starts -
Road narrows -
Road narrows on the left -
Road narrows on the right -
Crossroads -
Staggered junctions -
Staggered junctions -
T-junction -
Y-junction -
Merging traffic from the left -
Joining a side road at right angles to the left -
Merging traffic from the right -
Joining a side road at right angles to the right -
Narrow bridge -
Two-way traffic ahead -
Stop sign ahead -
Give way sign ahead -
Roundabout ahead -
Traffic lights ahead -
Steep descent -
Steep ascent -
Slippery road -
Loose gravel -
Falling rocks -
Pedestrian crossing ahead -
Children -
Blind pedestrians crossing -
Roadworks -
Level crossing with barriers ahead -
Level crossing without barriers ahead -
Bus lane ahead -
Cycle lane ahead -
Cyclists -
Domestic animals -
Quayside or riverbank -
Dangerous cliff -
Uneven road -
Bump ahead -
Dip -
Hump bridge -
Tunnel -
Low-flying aircraft
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
-

-
Give way (without inscription) -
Give way (with inscription) -
Priority road -
End of priority road -
Priority 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 -
Cul-de-sac -
Parking -
Telephone -
Emergency telephone -
Petrol station -
Restaurant -
Light refreshment -
Caravan site -
Youth hostel -
Swimming pool -
First aid -
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
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.