Every 2026-Plated Car Needs 2 Airbags, ABS & ESC — Worth the Extra Price?

Any vehicle registered in Sri Lanka in 2026 must now meet minimum safety standards — at least two airbags, ABS, and electronic stability control — on top of the Euro 6 emission rule already in force for imports. Importers say this locks out the cheapest hatchbacks and small cars that used to sell on price alone, since every unit now carries extra cost for the same basic model. Safety advocates argue it's long overdue — Sri Lanka's roads are full of bare-bones cars with zero airbags that turn minor crashes into fatalities, and buyers deserve a floor on protection even if they can't shop around for it. Others say the real fix is enforcing seatbelt and speed rules properly, not taxing basic safety hardware into every budget car and pushing first-time buyers towards older used imports with no standards at all. If you bought a 2026-plated vehicle, did the extra safety features actually show up, or did you just pay more for the same old car? ABS saha airbags dekak anivarya kirimen adu milayen vikunana car mila wadi wenawada? Obe adahasa mokakda?