China to donate 100 electric buses to Sri Lanka

• Buses to operate on Colombo-Kandy and Colombo-Galle routes

By Shane Seneviratne   

The Chinese government has decided to donate 100 electric buses to Sri Lanka to reduce environmental pollution caused by carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

During a meeting with the Mahanayaka of the Malwatta Chapter, Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera on Thursday (23), Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong said. 

He said the buses will be used to operate bus services in Colombo-Kandy and Colombo-Galle routes. He said the electric buses are widely used in |China, and they are valued at about US$ 225,000 each. He said the Chinese government would cooperate with the Sri Lankan government to switch to the use of electric buses. He said China donated 15 million metres of school uniform material and provided 900 smart classrooms for 500 schools this year to uplift the education sector in Sri Lanka. 

The ambassador further said China would continue to help Sri Lanka rebuild after Cyclone Ditwah and recover its economy.

Later, the Chinese Ambassador called on Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera.