Performance Indicators:
Sri Lanka Existing Situation
Amal S. Kumarage
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa
Chairman, National Transport Commission
kumarage@sltnet.lk
21st April 05
Overview of Land Transport & the Economy-
2003
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5 Bicycle
0 Motor Cycle
1978/79 Motor Car/Van
1981/82
1986/87
1996/97
Modal Share of Land Transport- 2001
Sector Vehicle Estimated Estimated Estimated Estimated
Operational Kilometres Person Ton-Kms
Fleet Operated Kms Carried
(mn) Carried (mn)
(mn)
Road Bicycle 2,000,000 2000 2,100
(NMT) Other
s N/ a N/ a N/ a
40
30
20
Public Bus
10
Private
0
Railway
75
80 Para Transit
92
Years 96
Priorities in Land Transport
Buses
Railways
Three Wheelers
Trucking
Private Transport
Rural Transport
Bus Transport In Sri Lanka
Private Individual Operators (1907)
Formation of Companies?
Nationalization (1958)
Impact of Bus Transport on
Sri Lankan Society & Economy
Although regulated fares, and the single bus ownership have been the most
quoted reasons for this state of affairs, recent study and documentation reveals
that a host of regulatory lapses are in fact the primary cause of this situation.
Performance Indicators- Buses
Quality – Load Factor, Journey Speeds, Directness, Availability during
unprofitable times, routes. Reliability
Problem areas
Lack of commercial/passenger interest
Pre-occupation with employee rights
High financial losses
Cartelisation
Inefficiency
Performance Indicators-
Three Wheelers
Cost to shippers.
Ownership of vehicles
Affordability of services
Performance Indicators-
Overall Transport
Efficiency: Network Speeds (rail, roads, bus)
Employment Generation
Cost of Externalities
Time Value > 30 km/hr Rs 77,500 mn
Time Value <30km/hr Rs 16,250 mn
Over the last few months all these costs have increased by
around 60%.
Economic Direct Costs in Land Transport
(2003)
PASSENGER Vehicles Veh Kms Pax Kms Cost Rs. Cost per
Pax Km
Railways - - 4,258 6,500 1.53
Buses 25,000 1,296 49,112 36,288 0.73
3Wheeler-Taxi 167,764 1,890 1,328 13,230 9.96
Private Vehs. 880,034 10,125 17,784 71,875 2.73 MC
5.26 C/V
FREIGHT Vehicles Veh Kms Ton Kms Cost Rs.
Railway - - 128
Trucks/Vans 173,643 3,000 5286
Government Expenditure 2003
Expenditure
Roads – National Rs.11,300 mn
Roads – Provincial Rs. 2,151 mn
Railways Rs 3,500 mn
Buses Rs 3,000 mn
TOTAL Rs 20,000 mn
Income
Vehicle taxes etc. Rs 12,000 mn
Import Taxes Rs 5,000 mn
Taxes on Fuel Rs 5,000 mn
Registration/Annual License Rs 2,000 mn
TOTAL Rs 24,000 mn