Govt. seeks proposals to revitalise public transport through ancillary services and PPPs

In a move to address decades of decline in its public transportation system, the   government is seeking suggestions and views from the public to revitalise public transport through ancillary services and public-private partnerships (PPP).

“Over the past 40 years, Sri Lanka’s public transportation system has steadily declined, due to a lack of clear purpose, corruption and inefficiencies. The new government, however, sees public transportation as a cornerstone of our strategy for economic growth,” said Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe.

Abeysinghe, who chairs a newly formed parliamentary sub-committee, noted that the new government has identified public transportation as a critical pillar of its economic agenda, emphasising the need to enhance both passenger and freight services over the next decade.

“The new administration aims to reverse this trajectory by prioritising modernisation, efficiency and innovative ancillary services—with PPPs at the core of its vision,” he added. 

The sub-committee has launched a nationwide call for proposals, inviting businesses, institutions and citizens to submit innovative ideas for ancillary services tied to transportation. Key focus areas include optimal use of existing resources, identifying and scaling new business opportunities, reviving stalled non-operational projects and leveraging current trends in the transport sector.