With financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the study will focus on identifying methods to ease traffic congestion and transport difficulties faced by people in the Colombo city and suburbs, JICA said in a release.

The statement did not give the quantum of the grant.

It will review present conditions, on-going developments and future plans, to identify short and mid-term measures to improve the existing transport system, and in the long term to establish possibly a new mode of transport as the core system to fulfil the growing public and corporate mobility needs.

The study follows a joint Transport Ministry and JICA trial survey conducted in early 2012, ahead of the main survey.

“We request public support also for the main surveys to ensure the core transport system is determined in line with the actual requirements of the public,” said Transport Secretary Dhammika Perera.

Feasibility analysis for the identified core transport system would be also included in the study, the statement said.

“Depending on the results of the study, we would positively consider financing the implementation of the core transport system under concessionary Official Development Assistance loan terms,” said Harumi Ao, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office.

JICA’s on-going support to develop Sri Lanka’s transport sector includes financial and technical assistance to improve road, construct the Southern Expressway and Colombo Outer Circular Expressway.

In Sri Lanka since 1954, JICA recently gave assistance to expand and develop Phase II of Bandaranaike International Airport.