{"id":18502,"date":"2026-04-30T05:44:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T05:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=18502"},"modified":"2026-04-30T05:45:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T05:45:19","slug":"claims-that-number-plates-with-the-owners-name-will-soon-be-available-are-misleading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/claims-that-number-plates-with-the-owners-name-will-soon-be-available-are-misleading\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact Check: Misleading Claims Suggest Personalized Vehicle Number Plates Are Coming Soon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel <\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media posts were shared claiming that vehicle owners can obtain number plates displaying the owner\u2019s name. We at Factcrescendo decided to look into the accuracy of this claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Media Posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A post claiming \u201cnumber plates displaying the owner\u2019s name coming soon\u201d was circulated on social media, including by several mainstream media pages, as seen below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facebook<\/a> | Archived Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Posts claiming that these number plates will be available from the end of May have also been widely circulating on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FB Post 1<\/a>| FB Post 2<\/a>| FB Post 3<\/a>| FB Post 4<\/a>| FB Post 5<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We then took steps to verify the accuracy of this claim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact Check:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amid ongoing issues related to the issuance of vehicle number plates by the Department of Motor Traffic, the claim that a new system would be introduced allowing vehicle owners to obtain number plates displaying their names, possibly by the end of May, appeared questionable. To verify this, we checked whether the Department had issued any official announcement regarding such a new method through its official website; however, we did not find any such information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we looked into whether this had been reported by mainstream media, we found news reports stating that a proposal related to such a programme had been mentioned at the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance as thus<\/a> and thus<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, we looked into the discussion held at the Committee on Public Finance regarding this matter. During the discussion, Committee Chair Harsha de Silva questioned officials from the Department of Motor Traffic about the delay in issuing vehicle number plates. In response, officials stated that due to the lack of a proper supplier, around 413,000 number plates remained pending as of March 31, 2026. They further noted that a new supplier has already begun initial construction work at the Department\u2019s premises in Werahera, and that printed number plates are expected to be issued by the end of May. However, there was no mention that these would include personalised number plates displaying the vehicle owner\u2019s name; it was only stated that regular number plates for vehicles would be issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harsha de Silva referred to the widely discussed case involving businessman Dudley Sirisena\u2019s Rolls Royce and questioned why Sri Lanka cannot adopt a system used in other countries, where number plates include the vehicle owner\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response, Motor Traffic Department Administrative Commissioner Priyantha Dissanayake said that there are plans to introduce such a system in Sri Lanka. However, she noted that the current system is outdated, which is why it is not yet possible to implement number plates containing owner details. She added that the department intends to move forward with such a project once the system is upgraded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked about the timeframe for implementation, she stated that the system could be introduced within six months after the completion of the upgrade process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n