SriLanka, Feb. 22 -- Nearly 9,000 drivers and passengers of private cars have been fined so far for violating seat belt regulations on all

Expressways, including the Southern, Outer Circular, Central and Airport Expressways, the Police said yesterday.

Apart from the mandatory use of seat belts by the driver and the front passenger on all roads, it is now mandatory for rear seat passengers to wear seatbelts on all Expressway journeys. While this rule is not currently applied on normal roads, the Police expect it to be applied in due course to all passengers on all roads. Most of the new vehicles have an alarm which sounds if the rear seat passengers do not wear seatbelts.

Inspections are being carried out at all entry and exit points on...