Japan Signs Grant to Deliver Low-Floor Buses for Sri Lanka’s Public Transport

COLOMBO (News 1st); Japan signed grant contract under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme to provide eight large low-floor buses for Sri Lanka’s public transportation system.

The contract was signed between Ambassador Akio Isomata and Senior Professor K. Kapila C. K. Perera, Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.

Under the agreement, the Government of Japan has provided USD 362,476, equivalent to approximately Rs. 112 million, for the implementation of the project.

The initiative was developed following discussions held in February 2025 during the visit to Sri Lanka by Akiko Ikuina, who was then Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. During those discussions, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake formally requested assistance from Japan for the provision of large low-floor buses.

Emphasizing the importance of the project, Ambassador Isomata stated that the buses to be provided are completely refurbished used vehicles that comply with Euro 4 emission standards, making them significantly environmentally friendly.

He noted that the project directly supports the Government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative, a key policy of the current administration, by advancing the greening of the transport sector.

According to the Ambassador, the introduction of these high-standard vehicles is expected to help alleviate traffic congestion, enhance economic efficiency, and reduce economic losses caused by congestion.

Ambassador Isomata further highlighted that the low-floor design ensures accessibility for elderly persons and persons with disabilities, aligning closely with the concept of human security, which Japan considers a central pillar of its foreign policy. He added that the project aims to protect and empower vulnerable groups, enabling them to live in dignity, and expressed confidence that the buses would improve the overall quality of life of Sri Lankans by facilitating smoother workforce mobility.

Since 1989, Japan has provided a total of USD 62 million in assistance to Sri Lanka under the GGP scheme, reflecting a longstanding commitment to grassroots development and human security.