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Tuesday September 26th, 2023

Sri Lanka mulls hi-tech circulator buses without conductor: Minister

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is in discussions with a private technology group to set up a circulator route in the city using modern buses without a conductor in  bid to upgrade public transport, Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

“We are in discussions with a technology group in the Trace City to start a modern city bus service,” Minister Gunawardana told EconomyNext.

“The buses will only have a driver. But the current laws do not allow public buses to be operated without a conductor. Se we have to change the law.”

Circulator buses typically operate on both directions on a circular route, they have simplified charging. Two routes may cross each other, somewhat similar to the way MRT systems work.

Sri Lanka has a tightly regulated public bus service with a bewildering array of routes. State regulations typically stifle innovation. Due to tight regulations including price regulation, Sri Lanka’s three wheeler taxis have boomed.

Until a recent currency collapse, the worst in the history of the island’s intermediate regime central bank, which has destroyed living standards of the people more than in previous crises, buses were losing customers to three wheeler taxi’s and private transport, mostly motor-cycles.

Quality of public buses is low – except on expressways – due to regulated pricing and a rigid licensing system, critics say.

Three wheeler taxis on the other hand have rapidly innovated into ride sharing. (Colombo/Oct27/2022)

Comments (5)

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  1. sacre blieu says:

    Queer way of pricing for public transport and travel. The bus fares for the same distance are phenomenal compared to the train travel charges. Does it mean that the railway has not charged enough or the transport cost should be reduced? More so the trains cannot handle such a huge crowd during peak hours and passengers hanging onto the footboards or on the roof are exposed to severe danger.

  2. Kumar says:

    This guy is bluffing again. Sri Lanka doesn’t have the infrastructure for projects of that nature. Some idiots cancelled the first elevated trolley system and now blowing hot air.

  3. puvan NAGALINGAM says:

    The problem is overcrowding in buses like sardines.

  4. veddah says:

    Another gimmick. in England, it was necessary because the population was going down and there were fewer people willing to become conductors. The strikes in England at the moment are because of safety concerns about reducing the number of conductors even more

  5. Cassim Zarook says:

    Wild dreams, with the post and position changing.
    This is possible when a family can live with Rs. 2500/- a month.

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Comments (5)

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Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. sacre blieu says:

    Queer way of pricing for public transport and travel. The bus fares for the same distance are phenomenal compared to the train travel charges. Does it mean that the railway has not charged enough or the transport cost should be reduced? More so the trains cannot handle such a huge crowd during peak hours and passengers hanging onto the footboards or on the roof are exposed to severe danger.

  2. Kumar says:

    This guy is bluffing again. Sri Lanka doesn’t have the infrastructure for projects of that nature. Some idiots cancelled the first elevated trolley system and now blowing hot air.

  3. puvan NAGALINGAM says:

    The problem is overcrowding in buses like sardines.

  4. veddah says:

    Another gimmick. in England, it was necessary because the population was going down and there were fewer people willing to become conductors. The strikes in England at the moment are because of safety concerns about reducing the number of conductors even more

  5. Cassim Zarook says:

    Wild dreams, with the post and position changing.
    This is possible when a family can live with Rs. 2500/- a month.

Sri Lanka cabinet okays appropriation bill for 2024 budget

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers had approved a draft Appropriation Act for 2024, the state information office said.

The Finance Minister’s proposal to gazette the bill and table it in parliament was approved by the cabinet.

Presenting the appropriation bill is the first stage of presenting a budget for 2024,

The appropriation bills set outs the expenditure plans for each ministry.

The budget proposals, made in November is called the second reading of the Appropriation Act. (Colombo/Sept24/2023)

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Sri Lanka’s MEPA to get 28.5 mn rupees from Singaporean AEPW, for beach clean up

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) is to receive 5.7 million rupees a year, for five years, from Singapore-based marine waste solutions provider, Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), to maintain 8 beach cleaner machines.

The donation is meant to support MEPA clean coastal areas across Sri Lanka, using BeachTech Hydro Sweepy beach cleaner machines, previously donated by the organisation.

The oil industry-founded non-governmental organisation donated the 8 beach cleaners worth about US$180,000 to MEPA in the wake of the 2021 MV X-press Pearl ship disaster.

The machines manufactured by Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG, a German company, are effective at cleaning up plastic nurdles and other types of potentially harmful non-biodegradable waste, minimising human contact with hazardous materials.

As a significant amount of money is spent for the deployment of these machines for beach cleaning activities, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste has agreed to provide the funds for the upkeep of the machines for a period of five years.

With this financial donation, the Maritime Environment Protection Authority will be able to continue using these machines without interruption to clean identified beaches in the future. (Colombo/Sep26/2023)

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Sri Lanka’s SEC makes four new appointments

ECONOMYNEXT – The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) made four new additions from diverse backgrounds to its leadership.

These appointments are expected to increase the effectiveness of the SEC secretariat in the respective operating areas, the SEC said.

Manuri Weerasinghe, with over 20 years of experience in accounting, financial management, financial reporting and auditing, was appointed Director, Corporate Affairs.

She is a Fellow Member of CA Sri Lanka, member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a member of the Certified Practicing Accountants of Australia.

Her academic credentials include a Master of Business Administration and a BSc (Hons) in Accountancy and Financial Management (Special).

Prior to joining the SEC, she served in several financial management positions in Bermuda and Sweden.

Madura P R Wanigasekara was appointed Chief Digital Officer. He has over 20 years delivering and managing IT solutions, and has held several senior management positions in the public and private sectors.

His academic qualifications include a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Colombo and a Bachelor of Information Technology from the Curtin University of Technology.

He is also a member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Sharmila Panditaratne was appointed Assistant Director, Legal and Enforcement.

She is an Attorney-at-Law with over 21 years of experience as a securities market regulator.

She holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Houston, Texas and has worked at two law firms in the USA prior to joining the SEC.

Riyaz Bary, Deputy Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department was appointed a Director on secondment basis. (Colombo/Sep26/2023)

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