Regulatory & compliance · Domestic household goods
Sri Lanka
Where the mover operates its own goods vehicles, an annual Revenue Licence is required for each vehicle, from the Department of Motor Traffic
Regulated byAnnual Revenue Licence for goods vehicles (“Motor Lorry,” “Motor Lorry Tailor”), issued by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) under the Motor Traffic Act, requiring a valid Insurance Certificate, Vehicle Emission Test Certificate, and Vehicle Fitness Certificate; consumer protection under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003, administered by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA)
At a glanceRequirements at a glance
- Vehicle Registration Required
- Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Each goods vehicle must be registered with the DMT.
- Annual Revenue Licence Required
- Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Every vehicle, including motor lorries and lorry trailers, requires an annual Revenue Licence, obtainable through the eRevenue Licence Service online or at any Divisional Secretariat Office.
- Prerequisites for Revenue Licence Renewal
- Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. A valid Insurance Certificate, Vehicle Emission Test Certificate, and Vehicle Fitness Certificate (as applicable to the vehicle category) must be current before the Revenue Licence can be renewed.
- Driver Licence Class Requirements
- Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Drivers of goods vehicles need the appropriate licence class: C1 for a Light Motor Lorry (gross vehicle weight over 3,500kg, up to 17,000kg) or C for a Heavy Motor Lorry (above 17,000kg), each with specific minimum age, height, and prior light-vehicle licence-holding requirements, plus a medical fitness certificate from the National Transport Medical Institute.
- Subcontracted Transport
- Where a mover hires another company to do the driving (a subcontracted carrier), the carrier’s own vehicle licences, registration, insurance and driver licences cover the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold them.
- No Separate Business-Level Goods Transport Operating Licence Identified
- No
- Correct, based on available sources. Unlike passenger (omnibus) transport, which is regulated by the National Transport Commission under a dedicated business-licensing framework, this research did not identify an equivalent separate business-level operating licence specifically for goods transport companies, beyond the vehicle-level Revenue Licence and driver licensing requirements described above.
- Consumer Protection
- Yes. The Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003 establishes the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) as the apex government body for consumer protection and fair market competition.
- Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)
- Yes, accessible and free. The CAA’s stated mandate explicitly includes inquiring into complaints regarding the “production, manufacture, supply, storage, transportation or sale of any goods” and the “supply of any services,” directly covering moving-service disputes. Complaints must be in writing, supported by relevant documents, addressed to the Director-General, with no cost to the complainant and no legal assistance required. A national hotline (1977) and a dedicated Consumer Complaint unit are available.
- Industry Association
- None dedicated found. No dedicated Sri Lankan moving-industry trade association was identified in this research. Membership of an industry association is not a government licence.
OverviewOverview & Scope
Sri Lanka regulates goods vehicles through a vehicle-centric system: rather than a separate business-level operating licence, each goods vehicle needs its own annual Revenue Licence, renewable only with current insurance, emission, and fitness certification, plus a driver holding the correct licence class for the vehicle’s weight category. These obligations attach to whichever company operates the vehicles. Where a mover subcontracts road transport, the carrier’s own vehicle and driver documents cover the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold them.
On the consumer side, the Consumer Affairs Authority provides a free, accessible complaint process explicitly covering transportation services. No dedicated Sri Lankan moving-industry trade association was identified.
RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials
Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)
- Register each goods vehicle with the DMT.
- Obtain and annually renew a Revenue Licence for each vehicle, maintaining current insurance, emission, and fitness certification.
- Ensure drivers hold the correct licence class (C1 or C) for the vehicle’s weight category, with current medical fitness certification.
Subcontracted transport
- Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.
Customer practices
- Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with the Consumer Affairs Authority Act.
ChecklistCompliance checklist
Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)
- Each goods vehicle registered with the DMTWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
- Annual Revenue Licence current for each vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
- Insurance, emission test and fitness certificates current for each vehicle (as applicable to the vehicle category)Where applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
- Each driver holds the correct licence class (C1 or C) with a current medical fitness certificateWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
Subcontracted transport
- Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired
Customer practices
- Consumer-facing practices comply with the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003Verified by AffirmationRequired