Road signs in Sri Lanka

Road signs in Sri Lanka are standardized to closely follow those used in Europe with certain distinctions, and a number of changes have introduced road signs that suit as per local road and system. Sri Lankan government announced by a gazette that aimed to get a facelift and introduction of over 100 new road traffic signs. The new change will be replaced in colour and sizes and introduction of Variable-message sign & electronic digital sign boards in express highways. The Japanese government has granted LKR 1.24 billion to implement message signs in expressways.

70 km/h (written incorrectly as "kmph") speed limit for light vehicles outside built-up areas. Vehicle categories are motor cars, dual purpose vehicles and motor cycles

Language applicable traffic sign boards are in Sinhalese, Tamil and English. The motor traffic act (chapter 203) describes road traffic signs.

Warning signs

• 
  Curve to left
• 
  Curve to right
• 
  Double curve, first to left
• 
  Double curve, first to right
• 
  Steep descent
• 
  Steep ascent
• 
  Road narrows
• 
  Road narrows on left side
• 
  Road narrows on right side
• 
  Drawbridge
• 
  Quayside or riverbank
• 
  Uneven road
• 
  Bump
• 
  Dip
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Loose gravel
• 
  Falling rocks
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Children
• 
  Cyclists
• 
  Animals
• 
  Wild animals
• 
  Roadworks
• 
  Traffic light
• 
  Intersection with a secondary road
• 
  Intersection with a side road at right angles
• 
  Joining a side road at right angles to the left
• 
  Joining a side road at right angles to the right
• 
  Stop sign ahead
• 
  Give way ahead
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Level crossing with barriers ahead
• 
  Level crossing without barriers ahead
• 
  Single track level crossing
• 
  Multi-track level crossing
• 
  Ice
• 
  Soft verges
• 
  Fog
• 
  Accident
• 
  Other dangers

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 width
• 
  Maximum height
• 
  Maximum weight
• 
  Maximum weight per axle
• 
  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

• 
  Maximum speed limit

Mandatory signs

• 
  Proceed straight
• 
  Turn left ahead
• 
  Turn right ahead
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Proceed straight or turn left
• 
  Proceed straight or turn right
• 
  Pass onto left
• 
  Pass onto right
• 
  Roundabout

Priority signs

• 
  Stop
• 
  Give way
• 
  Priority road
• 
  End of priority road
• 
  Give way 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
• 
  Non toll road

Other signs useful for drivers

• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  One-way street
• 
  Parking
• 
  Telephone
• 
  Emergency telephone
• 
  Petrol station
• 
  Restaurant
• 
  Caravan site
• 
  Youth hotel
• 
  Pool or beach
• 
  First aid
• 
  Hospital
• 
  Living street
• 
  End of living street

Additional panels

Additional Panels to be used with Directional Informative Signs

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

Hazard-warning plates

• 
  Explosives
• 
  Flamable gas
• 
  Flamable liquid
• 
  Flamable solid
• 
  Oxidizer
• 
  Poisonus
• 
  Radioactive
• 
  Corrosive
• 
  Miscellaneous dangerous goods

See also

• Transport in Sri Lanka