COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s leading ride-hailing platform, PickMe, has announced a partnership with the University of Moratuwa to study transport challenges faced by communities across the country and explore solutions for a multi-modal mobility ecosystem.
The collaboration, the company said, aims to tackle “long-ignored mobility challenges” affecting diverse segments of the population. With a population of 22 million, Sri Lanka faces a range of transport issues, from unmarked rural roads to congested urban centres with complex traffic patterns.
“PickMe and the University of Moratuwa are working together to design scalable, locally relevant solutions,” the company said in a statement, adding, “This includes addressing areas with limited GPS-based map coverage and creating user interfaces suitable for low-literacy communities.”
The partnership will also explore ways to integrate multiple modes of transport, including buses, trains, and three-wheelers, into a unified, technology-driven mobility system, PickMe said, noting that the results could “redefine the future of homegrown technology innovation in the country” by focusing on solutions tailored specifically for the Sri Lankan context.
PickMe also highlighted that these efforts could “redefine the future of homegrown technology innovation in Sri Lanka” by crafting solutions specifically tailored to the nation’s unique context.
PickMe CEO Jiffry Zulfer emphasized the importance of comprehensive analysis: “We have a wealth of data that needs deeper examination to understand the evolving needs of the public. What is crucial now is qualitative research, and universities like Moratuwa play a vital role here.”
He added, “We require the human element, the ability to delve into societal behavioural patterns, foster innovative thinking, and uncover the directions in which Sri Lankan citizens are seeking solutions to improve their daily lives.”
The partnership offers mutual benefits: PickMe gains access to advanced research capabilities without establishing a separate R&D division, while the University of Moratuwa can apply academic knowledge to real-world transport challenges.
“This initiative empowers our students to explore future mobility solutions while strengthening Sri Lanka’s technological advancement journey,” said Niles Perera, Head of the Department of Transport Management & Logistics Engineering at the University of Moratuwa.
-ENCL
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