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Reservation Fee Comparison
Comparison of old and new bus seat reservation charges in LKR.
Primary Sources
Online bus seat reservation fee to be reduced to around Rs. 30 - Minister
Long-distance passengers will in future be required to pay only a nominal fee of around Rs. 30 when reserving seats through the online booking system, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake has announced. Speaking at a media briefing held at the Ministry of Transport today (05) to raise awareness on the online seat reservation system for long-distance travel, the Minister said the initiative was launched as a pilot project with private bus operators. He said the system allows passengers to check bus schedules in advance and arrive at bus stops accordingly, reducing waiting times and inconvenience. It is also expected to address several issues in the current reservation process, including the loss of reserved seats, sudden cancellation of bus services, and high reservation charges. At present, passengers reportedly pay between Rs. 200 and Rs. 300 to reserve a seat in some instances. Under the new arrangement, this cost will be significantly reduced to around Rs. 30. Minister Rathnayake further noted that the system will be beneficial to both bus owners and staff, improving efficiency in long-distance transport operations. Online seat reservations can be made via www.busticket.gov.lk, through the hotline 011-200 1266, or using KIOSK machines installed at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre.
Sri Lanka launches online seat booking system for long-distance buses
Posted by ONLANKA Newsroom on May 4, 2026 - 5:16 pm Passengers on long-distance buses in Sri Lanka can now reserve seats online for about Rs. 30 through a new system launched as a pilot project with private buses. Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said the system will help passengers check bus times, reserve seats in advance, and arrive at the bus stand at the correct time without wasting time. He made these remarks at a special media briefing held today (May 05) at the auditorium of the Ministry of Transport at “Maganeguma Mahamedura” in Battaramulla. The briefing was held to inform the public about the online seat booking system for long-distance passengers. Minister Rathnayake said the government would take steps to make people’s lives easier, even in small ways. “If we can make people’s lives even slightly easier, we will do it. As a people-friendly government, we will move the country forward under a planned programme in line with the public mandate,” he said. The Minister said the system had been started as a pilot project with private buses. He said it would help solve several problems faced by passengers when reserving seats, including the loss of reserved seats, sudden cancellation of bus trips, and high seat reservation charges. According to the Minister, some passengers previously had to pay between Rs. 200 and Rs. 300 to reserve a seat. Under the new system, the fee for reserving one seat will be around Rs. 30. He said the new system would be convenient and beneficial not only for passengers, but also for bus owners and bus staff. He also thanked SLT-Mobitel for providing technical support for the initiative. SLT-Mobitel Chairman Dr. Mothilal de Silva, who attended the event, said the company hopes to go beyond its role as a telecommunications provider and work with other parties to help solve problems faced by the public. He said SLT-Mobitel was pleased to contribute to sectors such as finance, agriculture, and transport. Advisor to the Ministry of Digital Economy Sumudu Rathnayaka said online seat booking will allow people to reserve a seat on the bus they need from home and reach the bus stand at the correct time. He said seat bookings are currently carried out through several systems, and there are plans to bring all of them into one place in the future. He added that by collecting the required information and creating a centralized booking system, people will be able to access information more easily a...
Video: Online Seat Booking for Long-Distance Buses Launched in Pilot ...
The government has introduced a new system to reserve bus seats online, aiming to make travel easier for daily commuters and long-distance passengers. Transport and Highways Minister Mr. Bimal Rathnayake said the pilot programme is now active. He noted that buses remain the most used form of transport in the country, even more than trains.
SLTB calls Bids for Islandwide Bus Fare Automation System
The Sri Lanka Transport Board has called for proposals to implement an Open Loop Automated Fare Collection system across its islandwide bus network. The project will introduce digital fare payments, POS machines, and seat reservation and refund systems across 107 depots. The initiative aims to modernise services and improve efficiency in Sri Lanka's state-run bus transport system
