January 12, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Transport in Sri Lanka is actively pursuing plans to implement an electronic card or QR code-enabled payment system for state-run buses, with the aim of addressing losses amounting to approximately Rs. 10 million per day. Minister of Transport Bandula Gunawardena informed Parliament on January 11th that the ministry is in the final phase of introducing this online payment system, facilitated by the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).
Highlighting the financial challenges faced by the state-run bus services, Minister Gunawardena revealed that a portion of the day’s earnings is not consistently returned to the respective depots by some bus drivers or conductors, resulting in a daily loss of around Rs. 100,000 per depot.
The minister emphasized that the electronic card or QR code-enabled payment system is expected to be rolled out within the next two months. This initiative aligns with the broader digitalization plan announced for the SLTB in November 2023, with implementation slated for the year 2024.
