Private-sector employees in Sri Lanka will be able to obtain monthly railway season tickets online from October 1, under a new initiative introduced by Sri Lanka Railways to make the process faster and more convenient.

The facility, which was previously available to public-sector employees, will now be extended to private-sector workers who rely on trains for their daily commute.

Under the new system, passengers can apply for and obtain their monthly season tickets through the Sri Lanka Railways online reservation platform, allowing them to complete much of the process without visiting a railway station.

The initiative was officially launched on Tuesday under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, with Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne also participating.

Previously, passengers applying for monthly season tickets had to obtain a railway identity card by submitting an application, photograph, proof of residence and a copy of their National Identity Card. They were also required to complete the process during specific hours and within a limited period each month.

The new digital system is designed to simplify these procedures. Once a passenger’s identity and user account have been verified, the season-ticket application can be completed online from home.

For initial account verification, passengers will need to visit a railway station that provides seat-reservation services. After verification, they can use the online system for the season-ticket process.

The initiative is being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Ministry of Digital Economy, Sri Lanka Railways and SLT-Mobitel as part of the wider programme to digitalise railway services.

The move is expected to make regular train travel more convenient for thousands of private-sector employees while reducing paperwork, queues and the need for repeated visits to railway stations.

The digitalisation of season-ticket services also represents a step towards creating a more efficient, accessible and technology-driven public transport system in Sri Lanka.