After a Year’s Pause, Number Plate Printing Back in Operation at Werahera

Printing of vehicle number plates officially resumed today (June 8) at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) premises in Werahera, following a suspension that lasted for more than a year.

The relaunch event was held under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Prasanna Gunasena.

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Minister explained that the prolonged delay was mainly due to procurement-related issues in awarding the contract to a private supplier. He noted that the process required multiple technical evaluations and formal approvals, which have now been successfully completed, enabling operations to restart.

During the period in which printing was halted, a significant backlog had built up, with an estimated 600,000 number plates pending issuance.

Gunasena further stated that, following the finalization of the contract, approximately 150,000 number plates remain to be printed and distributed. The responsibility for clearing this backlog has been assigned to the contracted company.

He expressed confidence that the pending demand will be addressed within the next few months, adding that the system is now equipped to manage daily requirements efficiently and ensure timely issuance of number plates for newly registered vehicles.

In addition, a new notification system has been introduced to improve customer convenience. Under this system, vehicle owners will receive SMS alerts once their number plates have been printed and dispatched, streamlining the collection process.