November 23, Colombo (LNW): Bus passengers will from tomorrow (24) be able to settle their fares using bank-issued credit and debit cards, as the long-awaited electronic payment system begins rolling out on services fitted with modern ticketing machines.
The official launch is set to take place on Sunday morning at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre, where the first public demonstration of the system will be held.
The initiative is a joint effort between the Ministry of Digital Technology and the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, and will be inaugurated by Subject Minister Bimal Rathnayake.
Addressing Parliament earlier, Minister Rathnayake noted that passengers had long complained about not receiving proper change when paying bus fares, an issue that has persisted for decades.
He stressed that enabling card payments would significantly reduce disputes over balance money and provide a more transparent and efficient system.
The Minister also pointed out that fare-related malpractice remains a serious concern across many bus routes. He added that both commuters and transport operators had repeatedly called for a secure and accountable payment method, making electronic card transactions a timely and practical solution.
Officials say the technology will be expanded to more buses in the coming months, with the ultimate aim of phasing in a fully cashless public transport system.
