SLT-MOBITEL announced their partnership with the Sri Lanka
Transport Board to provide Wi-Fi connectivity and branding for the new ‘Park and Ride’ city bus
service, a novel concept developed by the State Ministry of Transport. The inaugural launch of
the first of its kind luxury bus service was held on January 15 th 2021 under the patronage of His
Excellency the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Minister of Transport, Gamini Lokuge, State
Minister of Transport Dilum Amunugama, SLTB Chairman, Kingsley Ranawaka, Chairman of
SLT Group, Rohan Fernando along with higher officials from SLT-MOBITEL.
The recent brand unification of SLT-MOBITEL has enabled the brand to further strengthen its
commitment as the national telecommunication service provider which specializes in providing
integrated telecommunication services. Through this city bus partnership, SLT-MOBITEL is one
step ahead in providing next generation connectivity solutions and transforming the nation with
digitalization.
Commenting on SLT-MOBITEL’s contribution to the Park and Ride bus service, Rohan
Fernando, Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom Group stated, “Today marks yet another historical
day for SLT-MOBITEL as we get on board on this journey with the Sri Lanka Transport Board to
connect the country with unparalleled connectivity solutions. We are a brand that always place
customers at heart, hence, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to make a difference in
their lives. The Park and Ride city buses will be yet another platform for Sri Lankans to
experience SLT-MOBITEL’s world class Wi-Fi connectivity services on the go. As the national
telecommunication service provider, we are committed to supporting the government’s efforts
and leading Sri Lanka towards an info com and knowledge rich society.”
The city bus service was launched in efforts to reduce traffic congestion and promote safe and
secure travel in Colombo. While the first phase of the bus service will operate from the
Makumbura Multimodal Transport Center (MTC) with 25 buses, the bus service will soon be
implemented across the country. The buses are set to operate every 15 minutes from 06:00am
to 09:00am on a daily basis. After 9:00am, the buses will operate every 30 minutes until
08:00PM. Passengers with small vehicles and motorcycles will be able to park their vehicles in a
designated area at the MTC and hop on the ‘Park & Ride’ city bus to commute to Colombo.
About SLT:
Sri Lanka Telecom PLC is the national Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
solutions provider and the leading broadband and backbone infrastructure services provider in
Sri Lanka for over 163 years. SLT enables opportunities that empower Sri Lankans and
elevates the country’s standing in the global arena. SLT’s transformation into a digital service
provider has seen the Company move beyond telecommunications services to provide a variety
of services and solutions that cater to a digital lifestyle. Mobitel, the mobile arm of SLT launched
the First Commercial 4.5G/4G+ Mobile Network in South Asia in 2018 and was the first network
in South Asia to successfully showcase the deployment of 5G over a Mobile Network by
connecting a commercial Mobile smartphone to its 5G network exceeding speeds of 1.55Gbps.
Mobitel has made great strides in recent years to expand its influence in NB-IoT, Automation,
Artificial Intelligence and Critical Communication technologies and solutions and has been
adjudged as the Fastest 4G-LTE network in Sri Lanka for two consecutive years by Ookla, the
global leader in internet speed and testing applications.
