Sri Lanka to enforce seat belt rule on expressways from Sept. 19

COLOMBO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police will require all drivers and passengers traveling on expressways to wear seat belts from Sept. 19, a senior police official said on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, director of Traffic Control and Road Safety, told reporters that anyone traveling without wearing a seat belt could face a fine of 1,000 Sri Lankan rupees (about 3.3 U.S. dollars).

Authorities may also fine passengers who fail to wear seat belts on buses operating on expressways, Ranagala said, urging the public to recognize the importance of the safety measure.

The authorities introduced the requirement to protect lives amid a rise in fatalities linked to the failure to wear seat belts, he added. Enditem