President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that Sri Lanka’s entire transport system must undergo a rapid transformation to establish a more efficient, safe and technologically advanced network that delivers a dignified and reliable service to the public.
The President made these remarks during a meeting held yesterday morning (12) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
During the meeting, the President was briefed on a strategic plan prepared by the Ministry based on five key pillars: economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, social equity and accessibility, and safety and security, aimed at revitalising the transport sector.
As part of efforts to address severe traffic congestion in Colombo, the government plans to introduce the Lanka Metro Transit bus service. The necessary infrastructure is currently under development, and the buses are expected to arrive in the country by August this year.
The project will initially be implemented as a pilot along six main roads surrounding Colombo, beginning in the Western Province before expanding to the Galle and Kandy districts. Within the next three years, the service is expected to extend to eight major cities. The pilot aims to reduce the daily influx of private vehicles into Colombo and encourage greater use of public transport.
The President stressed that identifying and maintaining dedicated bus priority lanes will be critical to the success of the initiative.
He also highlighted the need to replace the fragmented existing bus system with transport companies operating under a cluster model to improve service quality. Emphasising a service-oriented approach, the President noted that the public is primarily concerned with access to quality transportation, rather than the structure through which it is delivered.
Observing that Sri Lanka’s cities evolved without systematic planning, the President said transport management within the existing urban framework must be handled carefully, and described the bus cluster model as the most practical solution.
Under the proposed system, companies would be established to deploy buses, with government support available if profitability challenges arise. He further stressed the importance of formal agreements between bus owners, companies and the government to ensure uninterrupted services, noting that this approach would be more cost-effective than purchasing new buses outright.
The President also underscored the importance of developing Multi-modal Transport Hubs (MTH) linked to the railway network to integrate different modes of transport. Discussions included modernising the Kelani Valley Railway line and introducing an electronic system for the expressway network.
Special attention was given to employee welfare in the transport sector. The President emphasised the need for structured service conditions, formal appointment letters and systematic welfare measures, particularly for private sector workers, to ensure dignity and job security.
The meeting also reviewed the on-site fine system and the demerit point mechanism. Although driving licences with embedded chips have been issued for the past decade, the absence of supporting technological software has rendered the demerit point system ineffective. With the introduction of Gov.pay, officials noted that a fully operational mechanism could be implemented within six to seven months.
A regulatory framework for three-wheelers, taxis and school vans has been developed and is expected to be presented following consultations with stakeholders.
Issues concerning the ‘Sisu Sariya’ school bus service were also discussed. It was noted that LKR 2,200 million was allocated for the programme in 2025, of which LKR 500 million remained unutilised. Discussions focused on improving efficiency and expanding the service to deliver greater benefits to students.
The establishment of a National Centre for Transport Research and Development, bringing together all transport sector institutions under one platform, was also proposed.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake; Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena; Secretary to the Ministry Senior Professor Kapila Perera; senior officials of the Ministry; and heads and senior officers of affiliated institutions, including Sri Lanka Railways, the Department of Motor Traffic, the National Transport Commission and the Sri Lanka Transport Board.
The post President Calls for Rapid Transformation of Sri Lanka’s Transport System appeared first on LNW Lanka News Web.
