The Government of Japan and residents of Yokohama City have jointly donated seven low-floor buses to Sri Lanka to support the development of urban public transport.
The buses were officially handed over to the Sri Lankan government on September 2 at the joint depot premises of the Sri Lanka Transport Board and Lanka Metro Transit in Thalangama, Battaramulla.
Japan's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata handed over the buses to Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake.
The seven buses are to be deployed in the Metro Bus Service.
The service currently operates 10 buses in Colombo and surrounding areas.
The seven newly donated vehicles will therefore expand the currently operating fleet.
Low-floor buses are designed to make boarding and exiting easier, particularly for older passengers and people with mobility difficulties.
The government says a much larger expansion is also planned.
Lanka Metro Transit (Pvt.) Ltd. plans to introduce another 104 buses before the end of September, which would take the total Metro fleet to 121 buses if the planned rollout is completed.
The company has allocated Rs. 800 million for the project in 2026, according to the government.
A further equity-capital investment of Rs. 267.5 million is planned for 2027 to support operations.
It is important to distinguish the buses already received from the future fleet expansion.
The seven donated buses have been handed over.
The additional 104 buses are planned and should not be described as already delivered or operational until that occurs.
The donation forms part of continuing development cooperation between Sri Lanka and Japan and is intended to improve the accessibility and efficiency of urban public transport.