The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC, Sri Lanka) as one of the Region II (Asia-Pacific) Champions of the FIA Innovation Challenge 2026.
Announced at the FIA Asia-Pacific Congress in Boracay, Philippines, the AAC was named Champion for two projects including ‘AAC Mobility Lifeline’ developed in response to Cyclone Ditwah, and ‘Solar-Guard’ a solar-powered advanced-warning system.
In response to Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025, the AAC activated ‘AAC Mobility Lifeline’, transforming its 24-hour call centre into a national mobility coordination hub. With a 200% increase in emergency calls, the AAC guided road users, rescue services and evacuees through flooded roads and landslides to safety.
Alongside 60 staff, over 135 volunteers, and 50 vehicles, the AAC also mobilised its network of more than 160 accredited garages, demonstrating the importance of local partnerships to support nationwide resilience and recovery during a crisis.
As part of its ongoing efforts, AAC has contributed Rs. 25 million to the President’s Fund to support the Government Policy on “Clean Sri Lanka” towards those affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
The AAC is also supporting road users on hazardous roads with limited visibility through the ‘Solar-Guard’ system. In collaboration with the Road Development Authority, the AAC created a solar-powered advanced-warning system, introducing LED blinker lights to high-risk areas.
With 24-hour, autonomous visual alerts improving driver awareness, the ‘Solar-Guard’ system is reducing crashes while operating sustainably without dependence on the grid.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA said: “Congratulations to the Automobile Association of Ceylon, and President Dhammika Attygalle on being named a Region II Champion in this year’s FIA Innovation Challenge.
“Through these projects, the AAC has demonstrated that our Mobility Clubs will always be there to support their members in a crisis and will continue to innovate to save lives on the road.”
Tim Shearman, Deputy President for Automobile Mobility and Tourism said: “We are a global network, but it’s the local knowledge of our Mobility Clubs that helps us meet the unique needs of road users everywhere.
“The AAC has developed two projects that show real understanding of their mobility landscape, of what road users need, and how they can work with their partners to meet their needs in a crisis and every day.”
Augustus ‘Joe’ Ferreria, FIA Region II President said: “When it comes to extreme weather, there are some things we cannot plan for, but how we respond is critical.
“The AAC have shown Member Clubs across FIA Region II and the entire FIA Network how we should respond in a crisis, by combining the strength of our teams with the expertise and skills of our partners.”
Dhammika Attygalle, President of the AAC said: “Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common globally, but through our dedicated team and strong mobility network, we can support road users nationwide when disaster strikes.
“We’re also helping to reduce risk on the road, and through proactive projects like Solar-Guard, we’re working to improve driver awareness and prevent crashes happening in the first place.”
The AAC joins the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV, Australia; Member of the Australian Automobile Association), which has also been named as Region II Champion of the FIA Innovation Challenge 2026.
A global judging panel will now select one Global Winner from these Champions, who will receive their award at the FIA General Assemblies week in Shanghai, China, in December.
Now in its third year, the FIA Innovation Challenge has seen Member Clubs throughout Region II continue to demonstrate leadership and innovation in delivering safer, more sustainable and more affordable mobility solutions.
