Preparatory work has begun to extend Sri Lanka’s Metro Luxury Bus Service to the Jaffna District, with the Government targeting the commencement of operations by mid-2027.
As part of the initial preparations, a special route inspection and trial run were conducted in Jaffna today (November 10) to examine suitable roads, assess technical feasibility and identify infrastructure requirements.
A preliminary discussion on the proposed expansion was also held at the Road Development Authority’s Northern Province Project Director’s Office on Jaffna Beach Road.
The inspection focused on identifying routes suitable for low-floor Metro buses, evaluating vehicle-related technical requirements and selecting locations for new bus stops within the city. The possibility of establishing private vehicle parking facilities near the proposed bus stops was also discussed.
Deputy Minister of Transport Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said the Metro Bus Service, which began as a pilot project with 10 buses, has expanded to a fleet of 122 buses.
He noted that the service currently operates across all three districts in the Western Province: Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara.
Drawing on the experience gained through operations in Colombo, the Government has selected Jaffna and Kandy for the next phase of the expansion, he added.
The Deputy Minister further said the project would be implemented through the Sri Lanka Metro Transit Company with full Government funding, under the national development plan running until 2029.
