ll private buses will be fitted with GPS tracking devices within the current year, with the Western Province rollout expected to conclude by March 2026.

Gamini Jayasinghe, Chairman of the Road Passenger Transport Authority (RPTA), stated that this initiative aims to address long-standing passenger complaints regarding irregular bus schedules.

The move follows numerous reports of buses operating outside their designated times, specifically those that drive excessively slowly to pick up more passengers and then speed dangerously toward their destination.

The GPS will allow the authority to monitor whether buses are reaching their destinations according to the set timetable and take necessary action against violators.

A pilot project involving 101 buses operating on expressway routes from Kadawatha has already proven successful, prompting the decision to expand the technology to the nearly 15,000 private buses operating island-wide.

Chairman Jayasinghe emphasised that this policy will safeguard passenger rights and significantly improve the efficiency of public transport.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Transport, the National Road Passenger Transport Authority, and all nine Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities.

Officials are currently finalising the IT infrastructure and coordinating with Provincial Governors to prepare the necessary gazette notifications to enforce the new regulations.