e-mobility the way forward

The “2023 World Public Transport Day” celebration organized by the Ministry of Transport and Highways, under the theme of “Comfortable journey – a boost for Sri Lanka’s development” was held at the BMICH, Colombo, under the patronage of the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana.

Simultaneously, Dr. Jayalath Edirisinghe of Peradeniya University gave a special talk on the prevention and mitigation of road accidents, while Dr. Thusitha Sugathadasa of Moratuwa University gave a special talk on the role of electrification in public transport.

Appraisal awards were also presented to railway stations that provide the most efficient and environmentally friendly service among the railway stations in Sri Lanka and to the SLTB depots and regional stations that have achieved high progress in performance.

The Minister address in the event said, “Transport has a powerful impact on macroeconomic variables such as a country’s output, income, employment, balance of payments, savings, and investment. Among the main economic activities of production, consumption and exchange, transportation is the one that builds domestic and international relations for exchange. Buses and trains are widely used to meet the needs of the people. In an era in which people are facing economic difficulties, public transport provides a great relief to the people”.

“Taking the opinions of experts, a programme has been implemented to improve public transport in our country. As a result, there has been great progress in the transport sector. But, at present, the world is moving forward faster than us. The world’s attention has been focused on a sustainable transportation system, due to the adverse effects on the environment, caused by the use of fossil fuels for public transportation. Accordingly, the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank, together with the international community, there is a serious dialogue in the world about an electric public transportation system in the future world”.

“Therefore, many countries in the world, including Asia and America, have come much further than us in the field of electric cars. In the international conferences attended in the past, it appeared that, by 2030, a large number of countries in the world have paid great attention to the electrification of public transportation. Plans are being prepared for an electric powered railway service that will connect the whole world for a more safe, reliable, effective and efficient transportation service. Accordingly, attention has been paid to an electric railway system connecting all countries of the world. They believe that through such a high-speed train service, it will be more effective in reducing the high fossil fuel consumption, environmental damage and time spent on air travel”.

“Accordingly, Sri Lanka is currently working together with UNESCEP to prepare a roadmap for e-mobility in 2024. By the end of this year, with the opinions and suggestions of experts in the field, we are working to unveil a plan for e-mobility in our country. Through that, in the year 2024, we expect to promote the production of electric bicycles, motorcycles and three-wheelers in Sri Lanka, and to start the operation of electric buses. Now SLTB has invited proposals for running 200 electric buses in the Western Province”.

“Along with that, many talented and creative entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka have progressed to the position of producing and exporting electric vehicles and accessories without even the support of the government. Our country does not have the ability to develop foreign earnings by relying only on agricultural exports. Therefore, there is a need to present new products to the world in order to win the international market and increase foreign earnings. I believe that, especially after the success of the debt restructuring programme, we will be able to make effective development investments for the transportation sector in the coming year”.

State Minister of Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna, State Minister of Highways Siripala Gamlath, Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Highways M.M.P.K. Mayadunne were among those who attended the event.

The post e-mobility the way forward appeared first on DailyNews.