The government has approved a move allowing passengers to pay bus fares using bank cards on buses equipped with ticketing machines, effective November 30, 2025.
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake announced the decision in Parliament, citing issues in the bus industry caused by stolen tickets.
“It is a well-known fact that bus tickets are being stolen. This is the main reason why the bus industry in Sri Lanka cannot operate efficiently, as operators often fail to receive income from fares,” the minister said.
He added that private bus owners have long requested a system enabling card payments. “Many have attempted to introduce transport cards, but it has been a cumbersome process. We hope that by November 30, passengers on buses with ticketing machines will be able to purchase tickets directly using any bank card valid in Sri Lanka,” Ratnayake noted.
The initiative is expected to modernize fare collection and reduce losses in the public transport sector.
