SL seeks foreign investors for electric bus pilot project

Dr. Bandula Gunawardana

Sri Lanka is seeking foreign investors to implement an electric bus pilot project in Colombo.
Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardana yesterday said the project, which has received the Cabinet nod, “will be implemented as a domestic and foreign joint venture”.

He said Expressions of Interest (EOIs) have been called for the project, which involves putting 200 electric buses on to the roads of the Western province.
Gunawardana said the investors would be allowed to import 200 buses and to set up charging points. 
“The investor would be allowed to operate the project to recover the invested capital. 

Thereafter, within a certain period, the ownership of the buses will be acquired by the government. Any country in the world, including China and Korea, could apply for this project. This is an investment opportunity,” he said.
“There is a global consensus that all public transport in the world should reach zero emission by 2030. Those involved in carbon trading are investing in this to protect the ecosystem. Electric buses bring great value to the environment. Various organisations in the world are paying a high price to protect this value,” he added.