Sri Lanka to launch online railway season tickets in September

Sri Lanka is set to launch an online railway season ticket system for private sector employees in September. The initiative, announced by the Transport Ministry, aims to modernize the ticketing process and reduce the need for commuters to visit railway stations in person to purchase or renew tickets.

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that the facility follows a similar digital system recently introduced for government employees. The new platform is intended to eliminate the requirement for passengers to queue at counters or obtain physical letters from their workplaces.

While the digital rollout addresses immediate convenience, Minister Rathnayake acknowledged ongoing challenges within the railway service, including demands for more trains, improved punctuality, and better onboard facilities. He noted that long-term improvements, such as upgrading tracks and acquiring new locomotives, require significant time, but the government will continue implementing quicker upgrades to railway station facilities.