System to Pay Bus Fares via Bank Cards to be Implemented from Tomorrow

COLOMBO (News 1st); Passengers will be able to pay bus fares using bank cards starting tomorrow. 

The launch ceremony will be held tomorrow, at the Multimodal Transport Centre in Makumbura. 

The event will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Transport and Highways, Bimal Rathnayake.

The program is being implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Highways, with technical consultation provided by the Ministry of Digital Economy.

Sumudu Rathnayake, Consultant to the Ministry of Digital Economy, said that the first phase of the project will facilitate to pay bus fares via bank cards for nearly 20 routes.

Some of the routes include buses running from Makumbura to Galle, Matara, and Badulla, as well as the routes: along Colombo - Ampara, Kadawatha - Borella, Monaragala - Bibile, Badulla - Bandarawela, and Badulla - Mahiyanganaya. 

Sumudu Rathnayake said the program will only be implemented for private buses in the first phase. 

Seven private and state banks have expressed willingness to facilitate the payment of bus fares via bank cards.

The system aims to provide solutions for not returning change to passengers travelling in buses and to allow bus owners to calculate their income accurately.