Colombo A newly introduced green-coloured vehicle number plate for electric vehicles has sparked concern after a new electric car owner said he was stopped and questioned by traffic police who were unfamiliar with the plate.In a video posted on social media, the vehicle owner said he was stopped by police in Weliweriya after officers noticed the green-coloured number plate on his brand-new electric vehicle.According to the owner, the officers questioned him because they were not familiar with the new type of number plate, prompting him to produce the vehicle registration confirmation message issued by the Department of Motor Traffic along with other relevant documents.

He said the documents were provided to establish that the number plate was legally issued and not a fake.However, the owner said the incident should not necessarily be blamed on the police, as traffic officers may not have been properly informed about the introduction of the new number plates for electric vehicles.He called on the relevant authorities to ensure that all police stations and traffic divisions are promptly informed of changes to vehicle registration procedures and number plates.

He also suggested that copies of relevant Gazette notifications be provided to traffic police stations across the country to prevent similar incidents and unnecessary inconvenience to vehicle owners.The incident has raised questions over whether adequate communication and awareness measures have been implemented among law enforcement officers following changes to vehicle registration and identification systems.