Sri Lanka’s public transport needs to get going

Sri Lanka intends to ask private investors to launch a public transportation service using battery-powered buses, according to Transportation Minister Bandula Gunawardana. 

Pilot initiatives will begin in the districts of Colombo and Gampaha. According to him, the bus services will be operated as public-private partnerships (PPPs) with the state-run Sri Lanka Transport Board. 

They hope to invite anyone who is interested to attend and participate in this project. Once the proposals are received, they will be reviewed in the cabinet and suitable technical committees will be formed to take the necessary steps. 

The Transportation Ministry wants to introduce electric trains to the Avissawella-Colombo and Kelaniweli railway routes in the future. There are some obvious problems with the country’s current public transportation infrastructure. Despite the Government’s attempts to improve the system, it remains inadequate for the requirements of the country’s growing population, trailing regional peers significantly. 

Buses, trains, and even three-wheeled vehicles are part of Sri Lanka’s public transportation infrastructure. Buses are the most common method of transportation, with both public and private bus companies operating throughout the country. There were 1,062,447 licensed three-wheelers at the end of 2018. 

There are more than three times as many motorcycles on the road, but the figure is notable when compared to the numbers of cars, dual-purpose vehicles, motor lorries, and buses which stood at 101,655. Since 2008, the number of three-wheelers has grown by 261%, outpacing all other modes of transportation, including buses, which grew by only 126%.

While the bus system is vast, it is also infamous for being of poor quality. The buses are frequently overcrowded, with passengers hanging off the sides and roofs. The seats are uncomfortable and there is little or no air control. Buses are also frequently delayed, and timetables are unreliable, causing problems for commuters who need to be at work or school on time. 

While Sri Lanka’s public transportation infrastructure faces challenges, the Government has worked to improve it in recent years. The Government introduced the National Transport Policy in 2016, with the goal of creating a sustainable, efficient, and affordable public transportation system. The strategy calls for the expansion of the train system, the introduction of contemporary buses with air conditioning and comfortable seating, and the improvement of road infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion.

LankaPay CEO Channa de Silva, recently stated that an open loop EMV (more on that later) transit card for public transportation will be introduced shortly. Following a four-party agreement with the National Savings Bank (NSB), the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), the National Transport Commission (NTC), and LankaPay, the statement was made. 

As a result, the NSB and People’s Bank will be the first banks to support the new transit card system, with de Silva remaining confident that all card issuer financial institutions would come on board to support this national effort.

To say the least, the prospect of an EMV transit card, a system that has been in use in other markets for decades, eventually making its way to Sri Lanka will be a welcome addition. True, the true value enhancement for the transit card system will come when it is available on both buses and trains throughout the island. Regardless, the statement is a step forward in what appears to be a slow process of modernising the current public transportation system. 

Despite these efforts, there is still much work to be done to improve Sri Lanka’s public transport system. The Government must continue to invest in infrastructure and modernise the system to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.