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.^[1]

Language applicable traffic sign boards are in Sinhalese, Tamil and English. The motor traffic act (chapter 203) describes road traffic signs.^[2]

Warning signs

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

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 width
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  Maximum height
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  Maximum weight
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  Maximum weight per axle
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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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  No overtaking 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
• 
  No parking on even-numbered days

Restrictive signs

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  Maximum speed limit

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

Priority signs

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  Stop
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  Give way
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  Priority road
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  End of priority road
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  Give way to oncoming traffic
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  Priority over oncoming traffic

Additional panels

Additional panels to be used with regulatory signs

• 
  School (supplementing a regulatory sign)

Directional informative signs

National Highways

Provincial Roads

Expressways

• 
  Motorway
• 
  Non toll road

Other signs useful for drivers

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  Pedestrian crossing
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  One-way street
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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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  Caravan site
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  Youth hotel
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  Pool or beach
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  First aid
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  Hospital
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  Living street
• 
  End of living street

Route number signs

Additional panels

Additional Panels to be used with Directional Informative Signs

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

• 
  Light signals for pedestrians

Hazard-warning plates

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

See also

• Transport in Sri Lanka

References