fuelpass.gov.lk - fuelpass QR Code (fuelpass gov lk)

FuelPass.gov.lk was Sri Lanka's National Fuel Pass — a QR-code rationing system that decided who could buy fuel, and how much, during the country's worst fuel crisis. Launched in 2022 when pumps ran dry and queues stretched for kilometers, the system gave every registered vehicle a weekly fuel quota tied to a QR code. It was wound down when supplies stabilized, then reactivated on March 15, 2026 amid fresh supply pressures. Here's how it worked, what the quotas were, and where things stand now.

Quick facts

• What it was: a national QR-code system allocating weekly fuel quotas per vehicle.
• Official portal: fuelpass.gov.lk (registration, login, QR download).
• First launched: 2022, during Sri Lanka's economic crisis.
• Reactivated: March 15, 2026 — QR mandatory at all filling stations from 6:00 AM that day.
• Quota reset: every Sunday at midnight.
• Helpline: Government Information Center, 1919 (WhatsApp support: 076 000 1919).

Why Sri Lanka needed a fuel QR code

In 2022 Sri Lanka ran out of foreign exchange, and fuel shipments stopped arriving reliably. Stations closed, black-market prices exploded, and people queued overnight for a few liters. The government's answer was the National Fuel Pass: register your vehicle once, get a QR code encoding a weekly quota based on vehicle type, and show it at the pump. The station scans the code, the system deducts from your quota, and hoarding becomes much harder — one vehicle, one quota, no double-dipping across stations. It worked well enough that queues shrank dramatically, and the system became the template for how the country manages scarce fuel.

How registration worked

Everything ran through fuelpass.gov.lk. New users chose Vehicle Registration, entered a mobile number, verified it with an OTP, then supplied their NIC, passport, or business registration number plus vehicle details — registration number, chassis number (exactly as on the registration certificate), vehicle category, and fuel type. The Department of Motor Traffic verified the details, and the system generated a unique QR code to save on the phone or print out.

Already registered from the earlier cycle? If your vehicle and phone number hadn't changed, you just used Vehicle Login with your old mobile number and downloaded the existing QR — no re-registration needed. Changed your number or sold the vehicle? Then a fresh registration was required. If you want the mechanics in detail, our guide to how FuelPass QR registration worked walks through each screen.

The weekly quotas

Quotas were set by vehicle category. In the 2026 reactivation they ran roughly: motorcycles 5 litres per week, cars and three-wheelers 15 litres, vans 40 litres, buses 60 litres, and lorries up to 200 litres. The quota reset every Sunday at midnight, and unused quota didn't roll over — use it or lose it. Tourists weren't left out either: rental vehicles from reputable agencies typically came pre-registered, and visitors could register with a passport under the foreigner option.

The March 2026 reactivation

After the 2022–2023 crisis eased, the system went dormant — then came back on March 15, 2026, as global supply disruptions tightened again. The government made the QR mandatory at every filling station nationwide from 6 AM that day: no valid QR, no fuel. The relaunch also cleaned up old data — owners who'd changed numbers or sold vehicles could reset registration with just the vehicle and chassis numbers, and a province-by-province data cleanse handled transfers made after August 2023. For the bigger picture on where the system stands today, see is FuelPass still active in Sri Lanka.

Common problems and fixes

The most frequent headache was the "Vehicle Already Registered" error — usually the previous owner's record still sitting in the system. The fix was re-registering with the vehicle number plus chassis number to override the old entry. Lost QR? No need to re-register — log in with the original mobile number, request an OTP, and download it again. Changed phone numbers were trickier, but the 2026 update let owners bypass the dead number using chassis-number verification. And yes, a printed QR works fine — stations accept it on paper or on screen.

Frequently asked questions

Is FuelPass still active?

It was reactivated on March 15, 2026, with the QR mandatory at all stations. Check our status post linked above for the latest.

How do I get my FuelPass QR code?

Register at fuelpass.gov.lk with your NIC, mobile number, vehicle number, and chassis number, verify via OTP, and download the QR.

What are the current weekly quotas?

Indicatively: 5L for motorcycles, 15L for cars/three-wheelers, 40L for vans, 60L for buses, 200L for lorries — resetting Sunday midnight.

Can I use a printed QR code?

Yes. Printed and on-screen QR codes are both accepted at filling stations.

What if I bought a used vehicle?

Re-register with the vehicle number and chassis number to override the previous owner's record.

Why FuelPass exists: the 2022 fuel crisis

FuelPass was born in one of Sri Lanka's darkest economic moments. In 2022, foreign-exchange reserves collapsed, fuel shipments stopped arriving reliably, and queues at filling stations stretched for kilometers — people waited days, and several died in those queues. The government's answer was the National Fuel Pass: register your vehicle, get a QR code, and receive a guaranteed weekly quota. It worked — the QR system rationed fairly, killed the black market's oxygen, and the queues disappeared. When fuel imports stabilized, the system went dormant. Its reactivation on March 15, 2026 shows the mechanism is now permanent infrastructure: whenever supply tightens, the QR goes back on. Understanding that history explains the design — every rule (one QR per vehicle, weekly resets, station-level scanning) exists to prevent the hoarding and favoritism that defined 2022.

At the station: how a fill-up works

The routine is simple once you've done it twice. Drive in, tell the attendant your fuel type, and present your QR — phone screen or printed copy. They scan it, the system shows your remaining quota, and fuel is dispensed up to that limit. Payment is as normal (cash, card, or bank transfer per the station). Two practical tips: screenshot your QR as a backup — station connectivity isn't perfect and a dead phone battery shouldn't strand you — and know your quota before you arrive so there's no argument at the pump. If a station refuses to scan or demands cash-only "without QR," that's a red flag; the helpline 1919 exists for exactly these complaints. Our QR registration explainer covers the sign-up side in detail.

Is FuelPass still active?

Short answer: yes — reactivated March 15, 2026, with QR scanning mandatory at stations from 6 AM that day. Longer answer: the system's status tracks fuel supply conditions, so it can tighten or relax. For the current status and what "active" means week to week, see our still-active tracker. The quotas themselves get reviewed periodically — the figures on this page (5L bikes, 15L cars/three-wheelers, 40L vans, 60L buses, 200L lorries) are the standing allocations, but check for updates during supply disruptions.

FuelPass is one of those systems nobody loves and everybody needs when fuel runs short — a little QR code that replaced kilometers of queues with an orderly weekly allowance. Keep yours saved, keep your details current, and the pump stays boring, which is exactly how you want it.