Road signs in Sri Lanka

70 km/h speed limit for light vehicles outside built-up areas. Vehicle categories are motor cars, dual-purpose vehicles and motorcycles

Road signs in Sri Lanka are legally prescribed in the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203). 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.

Sri Lankan road signs display text in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Warning signs

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

Regulatory signs

Prohibitory signs

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  No entry
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  All vehicles prohibited
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  No motor vehicles, except motorcycles
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  No trucks
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  No trailers
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  No trailers
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  No tractors
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  No motorcycles
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  No mopeds
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  No bicycles
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  No animal-drawn vehicles
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  No handcarts
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  No pedestrians
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  No motor vehicles
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  Maximum length
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  Minimum safe distance
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  No left turn
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  No right turn
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  No U-turn
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  No overtaking
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  End of overtaking prohibition
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  No overtaking by trucks
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  End of overtaking prohibition by trucks
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  No horns
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  No parking
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  No parking and standing
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  No parking on odd-numbered days
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  No parking on even-numbered days

Restrictive signs

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  Width limit
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  Height Limit
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  Weight Limit
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  Weight Limit on One Axle
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  Maximum speed limit (for vehicles within built-up areas except for 3 wheelers and land vehicles)
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  Maximum speed limit (light vehicles outside built-up areas)
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  Maximum speed limit (heavy vehicles in non built-up areas)
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  Maximum speed limit (3 wheelers and land vehicles in built-up and non built-up areas)
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  Maximum speed limit (all vehicles within school areas and hospitals)
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  Maximum speed limit ends

Mandatory signs

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  Proceed straight
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  Turn left ahead
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  Turn right ahead
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  Turn left
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  Turn right
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  Pass onto left
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  Pass onto right
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  Roundabout

Priority signs

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  Stop
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  Give way (without inscription)
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  Give way (with inscription)
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  Priority road
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  End of priority road
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  Priority to oncoming traffic
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  Priority over oncoming traffic

Additional panels

Additional panels to be used with regulatory signs

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  School (supplementing a regulatory sign)
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  5.00 am - 9.00 pm (supplementing a regulatory sign)

Directional informative signs

National highways

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  Exit ramp

Provincial roads

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  Beginning of an administrative area
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  Confirming distances
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  Direction sign

Expressways

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  Motorway
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  End of motorway
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  Expressway

Other signs useful for drivers

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  Pedestrian crossing
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  One-way street
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  Cul-de-sac
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  Parking
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  Telephone
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  Emergency telephone
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  Petrol station
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  Restaurant
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  Light refreshment
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  Caravan site
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  Youth hostel
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  Swimming pool
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  First aid
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  Hospital
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  Living street
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  End of living street

Road markings

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  Overtaking line
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  Warning line
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  Pedestrian crossing
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  Cycle crossing

Traffic light signals

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  Red traffic light
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  Red & yellow traffic light
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  Green traffic light
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  Yellow traffic light

Light signals for pedestrians

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  Light signals for pedestrians

See also

• Transport in Sri Lanka