Commuters will be able to pay their bus fares using bank-issued credit and debit cards from today (24), marking a major step in digitising Sri Lanka’s public transport sector. The facility will initially be available on buses equipped with electronic ticket-issuing machines.
The inaugural event is scheduled to take place at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre, with the participation of Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake. The programme is being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation.
Minister Rathnayake recently noted that the lack of balance money being returned to passengers has become a widespread issue in bus transport. He stated that enabling card payments would help eliminate such disputes and provide commuters with a more transparent, convenient, and efficient payment experience.
Authorities expect the initiative to expand gradually across the island as more buses are upgraded with compatible ticketing technology.
