Commuters will be able to pay bus fares using bank-issued credit and debit cards on buses equipped with ticket-issuing machines with effect from today (24). The inaugural programme is scheduled to be held at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre.

The programme, jointly conducted by the Digital Economy Ministry and the Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry, will be held under the patronage of Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake. Rathnayake recently stated that the issue of passengers not receiving balance money after paying bus fares has become a significant concern, and that introducing card payments would help address this problem. He further noted that fraud and corruption related to bus fares remain widespread, and that many commuters had requested the option to pay bus fares using credit and debit cards as a solution.