Insurance companies in Sri Lanka have officially begun issuing Digital Motor Insurance Cards from May 1, 2026, following a joint decision by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka, and other industry stakeholders, police said.To support the implementation of the new system, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued instructions to all police stations islandwide to recognize and accept digital insurance documents during inspections and other official procedures.

Under the updated process, motor insurance coverage can now be accessed through digital cards available via mobile applications provided by insurance companies. Policyholders may also request a printed insurance certificate if needed.Police said that these digital insurance documents are legally valid under Section 3 of Chapter II of the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006, which recognizes the legal status of electronic records and transactions.A National Insurance Verification System has also been introduced to enable instant verification of insurance policies by both the public and law enforcement authorities. The service can be accessed by dialing *1338# or by sending an SMS to 1338 with either the vehicle number or policy number.

Police advised users to enter vehicle numbers without spaces between letters and numbers. For older vehicle registration numbers containing “SRI” (ශ්‍රී), the letters should be typed in English when using the verification service.In addition, a dedicated hotline operating through 1338 has been established to connect users directly with the customer service divisions of their respective insurance providers.The Police said that all inquiries and SMS services provided through the 1338 platform are free of charge.

Although digital insurance cards are now being issued, existing physical insurance cards will remain valid until their expiry dates. Temporary insurance covers will also continue to be issued for the time being, though authorities indicated that they may be phased out in the future.Police also noted that in situations where motorists are unable to display the digital card directly, a printed photocopy of the insurance document may be accepted, provided officers are able to confirm its “Active” status through the 1338 verification system.