Uber, the on-demand technology platform and app that connects commuters who need a ride and licensed drivers, announced the official launch of its uberX product in Colombo starting today. Launched in response to massive demand from Sri Lankans, uberX features air-conditioned sedans and premium hatchbacks at economical prices. Uber Sri Lanka will deliver the safety, reliability, and quality that millions of commuters have come to know and love about Uber in 367 cities in 67 countries around the world.

Uber’s services have been embraced by residents and visitors in cities from Singapore to New York and Hanoi to Nairobi thanks to its signature reliability and convenience, the 5-star service provided by driver partners, and the peace of mind offered by Uber’s extensive safety features among other aspects. Since mid-October when secret Ubers first rolled onto the streets of Colombo during our testing phase, riders have been enjoying all these benefits at the most affordable prices.

Varun Mundkur, Senior Launcher, Uber said, “Uber is thrilled to officially launch in Sri Lanka today. Demand for Uber is rapidly growing as more and more residents and tourists in Colombo open up the Uber app and take their first ride. Our experience globally gives us the confidence that ridesharing and technological innovation in transportation can make cities safer, easier to get around, less congested, and more livable. The launch of uberX today strengthens our ability to bring these benefits to Sri Lanka. At Uber, every city that we launch outperforms its predecessor and we expect nothing less from Colombo.”

With over 1 million credit cards and 11 million debit cards in Sri Lanka and over 20% of the population on smartphones, Sri Lanka is poised for Uber. We bring our global technology, expertise and best practices in the on-demand mobility space, coupled with the hyperlocal knowledge of the local operations team in the city. Uber brings a plethora of benefits to the cities it operates in and Colombo is no different.

We’re excited to bring real value to Sri Lankans:
● For commuters, Uber connects registered users with quality transportation on-demand, wherever and whenever they choose at the touch of a button. The seamless experience means never having to worry about finding a ride or having cash.

● For drivers, Uber’s lead generation software facilitates powerful entrepreneurship opportunities. Drivers make far more – and with greater flexibility – than any other option available to them.

● For the cities it serves, Uber means faster economic development in both residential and business districts, job creation for small businesses, reduced congestion because of a more efficient transportation alternative, reduction in drinking and driving incidents, and higher incomes for drivers who are, in turn, better able to support their families.

All this occurs in a way that prioritizes safety, reliability, quality, convenience and affordability for consumers and adds a fresh new urban mobility alternative, particularly valuable for a city like Colombo.

As part of our entry into the market, we had two of Sri Lanka’s cricket legends, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara take the first Uber rides around Colombo in October.

uberX is currently available in over 200 of the 360+ cities that Uber operates in. Data from other cities with uberX service, such as New York, shows that the efficiency driven by the Uber platform helps drivers earn more while keeping fares affordable for riders.

For more on how Uber works, click here or visit https://www.uber.com/cities/colombo

The caption for the Uber Colombo photograph is: L-R: Bhavik Rathod, Regional General Manager, Indian Subcontinent, Uber; Karthik Balachandrarajan, Operations and Logistics Manager - Colombo, Uber; Nuzreth Jalaldeen, Marketing Manager - Colombo, Uber; Varun Mundkur, Senior Launcher, Uber; Karun Arya, Communications Lead - South Asia & India, Uber