'Colombo Metropolitan Transport Strategy':

To further strengthen trade, investment and tourism

The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, organized a Luncheon meeting recently. The guest speaker was Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Dhammika Perera with a presentation on "Colombo Metropolitan Transport Strategy'.

Delivering the keynote speech Perera said, "I am delighted to share with you, the plans and the vision of the Government of Sri Lanka for a sustainable transportation system for Colombo metropolitan region. When the President, appointed me as the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, he together with the Minister of Transport gave me a clear mandate - the development of a transportation master plan for the next 30 years that will progressively see the transportation system evolve on par with an advancing GDP and per capita income. Currently the transport sector share of GDP is around 11.5 percent.

The Ministry of Transport was founded to develop a land transport system at minimum operational cost, and to re-build an efficient and cost effective transportation system which will enhance our economic competitiveness whilst delivering an improved life to the people.

Whilst it took nearly 50 years for Sri Lanka's per capita income to reach US$ 1,000 mark, the next US$ 1,000 was achieved in a short span of five years in 2009 under the able direction of the President. The Government has estimated that per capita income would be doubled to US$ 4,000 by 2016.

With the rapid increase in per capita income products and services which were previously classified as "luxury" will no longer be treated that way.

This context can, likewise, be applied to the transportation sector. Air conditioned buses and trains which, may be classified as luxury today will be a commonly used mode of transport in the next few years. The Transportation Master Plan for Colombo includes strategic route planning, road and traffic planning, pedestrian path planning, road safety and integrated multi model transportation with real time information system.

Our obligation is to ensure that all those who use our transport services are able to do so safely and efficiently."