The Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Sri Lanka has announced plans to introduce the Lanka Metro Transit bus service as a solution to severe traffic congestion in Colombo, during a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The necessary infrastructure for the project is currently being prepared, with buses expected to arrive in the country by August this year. The pilot project will initially operate along six main roads in Colombo, beginning in the Western Province, before expanding to the Galle and Kandy districts. Within three years, the service is expected to cover eight major cities.
The initiative aims to reduce the number of private vehicles entering Colombo daily and attract more commuters to public transport. The President emphasized the need to identify bus priority lanes and ensure their effective operation.
During the discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on February 12, President Dissanayake stressed that the entire transport system must undergo rapid transformation to deliver an efficient, safe, technologically modern, and trustworthy service to the public.
Five-Pillar Strategic Plan
Officials briefed the President on a strategic plan structured around five pillars: economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, social equity and accessibility, and safety and security.
The President noted that fragmented bus services should be reorganized into transport companies or clusters to improve efficiency. He said the public’s priority is reliable service delivery, regardless of the operational structure.
Under the proposed cluster model, a company would manage buses owned by private operators. If profitability challenges arise, the government may provide relief to ensure continuity. The President underscored the importance of formal agreements between bus owners, companies, and the government to guarantee stable operations, adding that this would be more practical than importing new buses at high cost.
Multi-Modal Hubs and Rail Modernization
Plans were also discussed to develop multi-modal transport hubs centered around rail services, integrating other transport modes. Modernization of the Kelani Valley railway line and the introduction of an electronic toll system for expressways were also reviewed.
Attention was given to improving working conditions in the transport sector. The President stressed the need for structured welfare services, formal appointment letters, and enhanced security for workers, particularly in the private sector.
Digital Reforms and Regulatory Measures
The meeting also examined the on-site fine system and the demerit point system. Although chip-enabled driving licences have been issued for a decade, no software system had been developed to implement the demerit points framework. It was noted that the GovPay platform could enable a proper system within six to seven months.
A regulatory framework for three-wheelers, taxis, and school vans has been prepared and will be presented after stakeholder consultations.
Issues related to the student bus pass programme were also discussed. Of the Rs. 2,200 million allocated for 2025, Rs. 500 million remained unused and was reallocated. Officials discussed ways to improve efficiency and ensure direct benefits to students.
Plans are also underway to establish a National Transport Research and Development Centre by integrating all transport-related institutions under one coordinated platform.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena, Ministry Secretary Senior Professor Kapila Perera, and senior officials from institutions including Sri Lanka Railways, Department of Motor Traffic Sri Lanka, National Transport Commission Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka Transport Board.
