Sri Lanka's online railway season ticket facility, currently limited to public sector employees, will be extended to private sector workers beginning in September, according to the Transport Minister.
The online railway season ticket system will be rolled out to private sector employees in phases, starting with a pilot programme in September, Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced at a media briefing. The Minister stated that the facility is expected to be fully operational for private sector workers by October. The online ticketing system for public sector employees was introduced last month.
Alongside the railway initiative, the Minister outlined a series of road safety measures set to take effect from mid-September. Most notably, wearing seat belts will become mandatory for all drivers and passengers on expressways beginning September 19, a move intended to reduce injuries and fatalities from traffic accidents. The government will also implement a mandatory 10-day training programme for public transport drivers and conduct regular mobile drug testing operations on roadways.
The Minister indicated that additional safety protocols would focus on vehicle standards compliance to ensure only roadworthy vehicles operate on Sri Lankan roads. Particular attention is being directed toward motorcycle safety, given that motorcyclists represent the largest category of road fatality victims. Initiatives in this area include encouraging the adoption of safety helmets that meet SLS certification standards, with future plans to establish dedicated motorcycle lanes on major roads.
