The government is focusing on extending its ‘Metro’ urban luxury bus service to the Jaffna District. It is reported that preliminary planning for this initiative is already underway.
As a step in this process, a special route inspection and a trial run were conducted yesterday (10) to identify suitable routes for the Metro buses within Jaffna city and to assess the necessary infrastructure.
During this exercise, attention was directed toward identifying routes suitable for low-floor buses, determining the technical requirements for the vehicles, and selecting appropriate locations for the construction of new bus stops. The plans also include the provision of parking facilities for private vehicles in the vicinity of these bus stops.
Deputy Minister of Transport, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, stated that the Metro bus service in Jaffna is scheduled to commence by mid-2027, with 10 buses earmarked for the operation. He further stated that the service currently covers the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts, and that the Jaffna and Kandy districts have been selected for the next phase of its expansion.