Govt. to introduce digital payment system to curb losses at state-run public transport provider

Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), the state owned public transport provider, plans to introduce a card or QR code enabled payment system for state-run buses to reduce its daily losses of 10 million, (about 31,000 U.S. dollars) due to corrupt bus crews, Bandula Gunawardane, Minister of Transport and Highways, said on Thursday (11).

Addressing the Parliament, he said some of the bus crews do not return the day’s total earnings to their respective depot.

He said the initiative to introduce an electronic card or QR code system for commuters to pay for their tickets is now in its final phase.The new system will be introduced in about two months, he said. Digitalization of Sri Lanka’s state-sector is a pivotal part of the IMF programme, he said.