This initiative advances sustainable public transport in Sri Lanka through two key interventions: a pre-feasibility study to introduce intelligent transport systems (ITS) and electric buses in Colombo, and scaling e-mobility initiatives nationwide. Activities include deploying two electric buses and charging stations via international funding sources including the Global Environment Facility (GEF). These projects aim to reduce GHG emissions, improve air quality, and foster investment in low-carbon transport, aligning with Sri Lanka’s climate goals and urban sustainability priorities.

Overall Project Period: 2021-2024

– LK05 E-Mobility Pre-Feasibility Study: July 2021 – December 2022 (USD $138,790.00)

– LK14 Scaling up the E-Mobility Initiatives: August 2023 – December 2024 (USD $35,441.40)

The initiatives aim to promote sustainable public transportation in Sri Lanka by:

– Introducing intelligent transport systems (ITS) and deploying electric buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and enhance urban mobility.

– Through pilot initiatives in Colombo City and scaling efforts nationwide, the project will benefit over 5.8 million people by providing reliable, low-carbon transport options.

– Additionally, it will support institutional capacity building, enabling a policy framework for e-mobility expansion, and catalyze investments in renewable energy-powered charging infrastructure, contributing to Sri Lanka’s climate and development goals.

Sri Lanka’s transport sector is a major contributor to GHG emissions, accounting for 48% of the country’s emissions. Urban areas, particularly Colombo, face severe challenges from air pollution, traffic congestion, and rising fossil fuel dependency due to increasing private vehicle use. Public transport systems, dominated by aging diesel buses, contribute disproportionately to emissions and air pollution, despite serving a significant portion of commuters. Additionally, inefficient transport infrastructure and the lack of modern systems exacerbate these challenges, affecting economic productivity and public health.

The Government of Sri Lanka recognizes the urgency of addressing these issues and has prioritized sustainable mobility solutions in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national policies. These include adopting ITS and transitioning to e-buses to modernize public transport, reduce emissions, and improve urban mobility.

GGGI’s intervention builds on a pre-feasibility study conducted in 2022, which demonstrated the potential of ITS and e-buses. Leveraging support from international partners including Global Environment Facility (GEF), the project aims to pilot sustainable transport solutions in Colombo and scale e-mobility nationwide, aligning with Sri Lanka’s climate and development goals.

The initiatives will establish a modern, low-carbon public transport system in Sri Lanka, addressing critical challenges such as urban air pollution, GHG emissions, and inefficient mobility. Integrating e-buses and intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) will pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient public transport network.

The initiative’s pre-feasibility study concluded that deploying e-buses on seven selected routes could cut 3,577 tons of CO2e annually and 577,267 tons of CO2e over their operational lifetime, significantly contributing to emission reduction targets.

The pilot phase, aimed to be implemented under other international funding sources will demonstrate the deployment of e-mobility infrastructure like e-buses and renewable energy charging stations, enhancing mobility for over Colombo Metropolitan commuters while improving service reliability and reducing travel times.

Additionally, ITS integration will streamline public transport operations, encouraging a shift from private vehicles to more sustainable options.

The outcome is a transformative shift in urban mobility, delivering cleaner air, reduced emissions, and improved transport systems. This initiative not only supports Sri Lanka’s climate and development goals but also serves as a replicable model for sustainable urban transport across the country.