3.3 Mandatory Signs and Priority Signs
Key Takeaways
Sri Lankan mandatory signs are white circles with a red border and a black symbol, without a red diagonal bar (MNS-01 to MNS-09).
MNS-04 and MNS-05 (bent arrows) order a left or right turn ahead; MNS-06 and MNS-07 (diagonal arrows) order you to pass the sign on that side.
STOP (PRS-01) requires a stop at the stop line; GIVE WAY (PRS-02) requires giving way without necessarily stopping (regulation 12).
PRS-04, the priority-road diamond crossed by one black band, marks the end of the priority road.
At a narrow section, a red-ringed PRS-05 (red arrow up) means give way to oncoming traffic; a blue PRS-06 (white arrow up) means oncoming traffic gives way to you.
3.3 Mandatory Signs and Priority Signs
Prohibitory signs tell you what you must not do. Mandatory signs tell you what you must do, and priority signs decide who goes first at junctions and narrow places. Both groups appear in Schedule II of the Motor Traffic (Signs, Signals, Symbols and Road Markings) Regulations No. 02 of 2015 (Gazette Extraordinary No. 1940/21). Section 164(3) of the Motor Traffic Act requires drivers to obey them.
1. Mandatory Signs in Sri Lanka: Red Ring, White Field, Black Arrow
Important
Sri Lanka does not use the European blue circle for mandatory signs. The Schedule II colour table specifies a circle with a white background, a red border and a black symbol for every mandatory sign (MNS-01 to MNS-09). The sign has no red diagonal bar: a black arrow inside a red ring is an order to go that way, while the same arrow crossed by a red bar (PHS-02 to PHS-04) forbids it.
| Code | Name | Order given |
|---|---|---|
| MNS-01 | Turn Left | Vehicular traffic must turn left at the intersection |
| MNS-02 | Turn Right | Vehicular traffic must turn right at the intersection |
| MNS-03 | Straight Ahead | Vehicular traffic must go straight ahead at the intersection |
| MNS-04 | Turn Left Ahead | Traffic must turn left at the intersection ahead |
| MNS-05 | Turn Right Ahead | Traffic must turn right at the intersection ahead |
| MNS-06 | Pass Left Side | Keep to the left of the sign, as the arrow shows |
| MNS-07 | Pass Right Side | Keep to the right of the sign, as the arrow shows |
| MNS-08 | Pass Either Side | You may pass on either side of the sign |
| MNS-09 | Compulsory Roundabout | Entering vehicles must give priority to vehicles from the right at the give-way line (RM-02), then go round the island |
The DMT sample paper tests these by showing a red-ringed circle with a black arrow and asking what it orders, for example "turn left" against "no left turn", or "pass on the left side" against "keep right". MNS-01 and MNS-02 use a straight horizontal arrow. MNS-04 and MNS-05 use an arrow that first goes up and then bends, meaning the turn is ahead. MNS-06 and MNS-07 use a diagonal arrow pointing down to one side, typically placed on traffic islands.
Mandatory road markings that work with these signs
Schedule V adds painted arrows with the same force: RM-23 Compulsory left, RM-24 Compulsory right and RM-25 Compulsory straight. RM-26 Traffic Lanes arrows show which lane to use for each direction. Choose your lane early, because a lane arrow is an order, not advice.
2. Priority Signs: Who Goes First
Priority signs have special shapes so that they can be recognised even from behind or when dirty:
| Code | Shape and colour | Meaning (Schedule II and regulation 12) |
|---|---|---|
| PRS-01 STOP | Red octagon, white border, white "STOP" | Stop at the stop line (RM-01), or at the sign if the line is not visible, and give priority to vehicles on the road you are entering |
| PRS-02 Give Way | Inverted equilateral triangle, white field, red border | Do not cross the broken give-way line (RM-02), or enter the road, in a way that endangers traffic on that road or forces it to change speed or course |
| PRS-03 Priority Road | Yellow diamond inside a white diamond with a black edge | You are on the major road; traffic entering from minor roads must give you priority |
| PRS-04 End of Priority Road | The same diamond crossed by one black diagonal band | Your priority ends; ordinary junction rules apply again |
| PRS-05 Priority for Oncoming Traffic | White circle, red border, red upward arrow and black downward arrow | At a narrow section you must give way to oncoming vehicles |
| PRS-06 Priority over Oncoming Traffic | Blue rectangle, white upward arrow and red downward arrow | At a narrow section oncoming drivers must give way to you |
STOP versus GIVE WAY
Regulation 12(a) requires every vehicle at a STOP sign to stop at the transverse line before entering the intersection, and then not to cross it in a way likely to endanger traffic on the other road or to make that traffic change speed or course. A rolling stop does not comply, because the regulation requires an actual stop.
Regulation 12(b) does not require a stop at a GIVE WAY sign if the road is clear. It forbids proceeding past the broken give-way line in a way that would endanger other traffic or force it to change speed or course. In practice, slow down, look, and be ready to stop.
The yellow-diamond warning signs DWS-23 Stop Ahead and DWS-24 Give Way Ahead (section 3.1) warn you that one of these signs is coming.
Narrow sections: PRS-05 and PRS-06
These two signs always come as a pair, one at each end of a narrow bridge or road section.
- If your sign is the red-ringed circle (PRS-05), the red arrow is yours: wait for oncoming traffic.
- If your sign is the blue rectangle (PRS-06), your arrow is white: you have priority, but still proceed with care.
The DMT sample paper includes the blue PRS-06 sign and asks what it means. A useful memory aid: red arrow = you give way; white arrow = they give way.
PRS-05 (red ring) PRS-06 (blue rectangle)
red up arrow white up arrow
black down arrow red down arrow
=> give way to oncoming => oncoming gives way to you
3. The Order of Precedence Between Controls
Regulation 3(2) of the 2015 regulations, taken from the Vienna Convention, sets the hierarchy that the DMT sample paper asks about:
- Instructions given by authorised officials directing traffic (police officers and traffic wardens) override everything else.
- Traffic light signals override road signs regulating priority (STOP, GIVE WAY, priority road).
- Road users must also comply with road signs and road markings.
So if a police officer waves you through a red light, follow the officer. If traffic lights are working at a junction that also has a GIVE WAY sign, the lights decide priority. When the lights are off or flashing amber, the priority signs apply again.
4. Worked Scenarios
Scenario 1. You approach a red-ringed white circle with a black arrow bending right. Answer: MNS-05, turn right ahead. It is an order, not a warning, and there is no red bar.
Scenario 2. At a single-lane bridge you see a blue rectangular sign with a large white arrow pointing up and a smaller red arrow pointing down. Answer: PRS-06, you have priority over oncoming traffic. Proceed with care: if an oncoming vehicle is already on the bridge, let it clear.
Scenario 3. The road you are on shows the yellow diamond with a black band across it. Answer: PRS-04, end of priority road. At the next junction you no longer have automatic priority.
Scenario 4. A STOP sign stands at a junction but the stop line has worn away. Answer: under regulation 12(a) you stop at the sign itself, then give priority to traffic on the road you are entering.
A circular sign has a white background, a red border and a black arrow pointing straight up, with no red diagonal bar. What does it mean?
No entry for vehicles going straight on at the junction
One-way traffic ahead on the road you are entering
End of all previously signed speed and overtaking limits
You must proceed straight ahead at the intersection
At a single-lane bridge you face a blue rectangular sign with a large white arrow pointing up and a red arrow pointing down. What should you do?
Give way to every oncoming vehicle before you drive onto the bridge
Proceed with priority, but let a vehicle already on the bridge clear first
Stop at the sign and sound your horn twice before entering the bridge
Turn back, because the bridge is closed to all vehicles in your direction
Under regulation 12 of the 2015 signs regulations, how does a GIVE WAY sign (PRS-02) differ from a STOP sign (PRS-01)?
At STOP you must stop every time; at GIVE WAY you stop only if traffic requires it
Both signs require a full stop at the line every time, whatever the traffic
At GIVE WAY you always have priority over traffic on the main road you are joining
A STOP sign applies only at night, when visibility at the junction is poor
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.