Commuters in Sri Lanka will soon be able to pay their bus fares using bank-issued credit and debit cards, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake announced in Parliament today (08).
According to the Minister, the new system will come into effect on November 30, 2025, for buses equipped with ticket-issuing machines. The move aims to enhance transparency and convenience in public transport transactions.
“It’s a well-known fact that passengers are often cheated through bus tickets, which is one of the main reasons the bus industry is not financially sustainable,” the Minister said, noting that the introduction of digital payments will help bus operators secure fair income.
Rathnayake further stated that private bus owners have long requested a card payment system, although previous attempts to introduce dedicated transport cards were unsuccessful due to technical complications. The new initiative will allow passengers to make payments using any locally accepted bank card.
The Minister also addressed concerns regarding the delay in issuing vehicle number plates, revealing that as of September 30, 2025, a total of 165,512 plates remained unissued.
He explained that the new number plates include seven advanced security features, with testing carried out by the University of Moratuwa. “The university successfully verified six of the features, but we needed international support to test the seventh, which has caused the delay,” he said, emphasizing that the enhanced security measures were vital for preventing fraud.
In addition, Minister Rathnayake assured that the delay in issuing new driving licences will be resolved by October 18.
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