Sri Lanka launched a new online system for issuing concessionary railway season tickets to government officials on Monday, in another step of the National Digitalization Programme to move state services off paper forms and counter visits, Newswire reported.
The initiative was formally introduced under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena. Officials from 35 state institutions took part in the inaugural registration process at the launch event.
Under the programme, government institutions must register on the digital railway platform to apply for concessionary season tickets for their staff. Officials requiring concessionary passes will be able to register through the Pravesha mobile app or the www.pravesha.lk website, coordinated by their institution’s designated subject officer. Registered officials will be able to apply for July season tickets starting June 15, 2026.
The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Highways together with Sri Lanka Railways and the Greater Colombo Railway Project. Authorities expect the move to improve efficiency, service quality and passenger convenience in the railway sector, while moving a significant volume of repetitive monthly applications away from station counters.
The launch fits the broader digital-government drive the government has prioritised under the NPP administration, alongside earlier rollouts such as the NEMIS and e-thaksalawa digital education platforms and the LankaQR-anchored digital payment expansion programme. Sri Lanka Railways has separately faced scrutiny over Rs. 1 million in monthly losses from manual season-ticket processing, which the new online channel is intended to ease.
