A consortium of investors from Europe, Korea and China will combine with Micro Cars Sri Lanka to invest USD 300 million to build state-of-the-art city buses, luxury coaches and also get involved in light railway project.
Chairman Micro Cars, Dr. Lawrence Perera said that these vehicles would be environmentally friendly and built to EU standards and will open a new chapter in public transport. “We will invest another additional USD 200 million for the second phase of this project.”
He said that he was very sad to see his proposal for the Light Railway forwarded 15 years ago went to the dust bin due to red tape of government officials and the same project has now surfaced.
Back in 2004 Micro Cars Ltd designed the concept of Lanka Econo Rail to be manufactured in Sri Lanka at a very economical cost which was approved by the Cabinet in 2004 but could not be taken forward due to bureaucracy.
“I want to get involved in this Light Railway project again as I see a better political condition in Sri Lanka and will invest with the foreign consortium in the Light Rail project.”
The locally built new buses will be equipped with Euro IV Environment friendly engines, ABS. Brakes, Air Suspension, Air Conditioning, Emission reduction technology, incorporation of smart technology Industry 4.0, GPS and automatic fare collection system, E ticketing system to ensure comfort, safety courtesy and promptness of service, most importantly durability will be the key focus with low maintenance costs and minimize downtime thus increasing operator profitability and in return providing efficient service to the commuters and end users. Meanwhile Higer Bus Company Korea Regional Manger, Tom Qain said that they hope to export some of the locally made buses to the African region as well. “We plan to build 200 buses in the first year of operation in Sri Lanka.”
Dr. Lawrence recalled that Sri Lanka has a history of building motor coaches during the 1950’s where passenger coaches were locally built on imported chassis. Similarly, trucks (lorry bodies) were also locally built during the same period. “At its peak this industry provided direct employment to approximately 50,000 people.”
This industry (bus/lorry body building) reached its peak in 1960s to late 70’s and gradually declined after 1977 due to the open economic policy.
“While these industries were both forward and backward integrated it provided employment to more than 200,000 people and with this project this market would be re created.”
Further this proposed plan will also build new or expand a chain of cluster industries, such as automotive component manufacturing, increase volumes of tyres, battery, electrical cables, paints, rubber products and a whole lot of other small and medium industries currently operating in the country by barely managing small volumes with age old technology.
Dr. Lawrence also said that made in Sri Lanka Panda Car too was one of the safest cars but they have now stopped this project.
“I saw families of four travelling on motor cycles with one child on the petrol tank and decided to introduce an economy car Panda priced from Rs. 1.2 million.”
He explained that a family could have sold their motor bike for RS. 200, 000 and then invested that on a Micro Panda and with the leasing and interest rates it was a viable investment.”
However the then government increased taxes without looking to safeguard the local industry and Mirco Panda price shot up making it beyond the reach of the common man.
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