What is Pravesha

Buying tickets at the counter while traveling by trains in Sri Lanka can be a pain due to the lengthy lines during rush hours and the need for change, which often slows down the process. Pravesha makes traveling easier by letting you skip ticket counter lines and head straight to your train.

What is Pravesha?

In 2024, the Sri Lankan Railway Department launched Pravesha, one of the official platforms for purchasing train tickets. It allows customers to easily buy commuter train tickets across the island without standing in long queues at station counters.

Pravesha offers a hassle-free experience for frequent and occasional travelers by enabling advance purchase and online payments. The platform is especially useful for daily commuters, allowing tickets to be secured easily from anywhere at any time.

It is important to note that Pravesha is different from the Railway Department's intercity online booking platform. Pravesha focuses specifically on general commuter trains, improving efficiency and convenience for daily travelers.

How to buy tickets through Pravesha?

The official website enables commuters to buy tickets for Sri Lankan general trains. Up to five individuals can be booked at once, with reservations available seven days in advance.

Follow these steps to purchase tickets via Pravesha:

• Visit www.pravesha.lk and click "Buy Commuter Ticket".
• Select the starting station.
• Select the destination station.
• Choose travel class: First Class, Second Class, or Third Class.
• Select the travel date from the calendar.
• Enter the number of passengers (adults and children).
• If buying return tickets, select the "Select Return Trip" option and choose return date.
• The system will display the total fare. Click "Buy" to proceed.

Review your transaction summary and choose how to receive your ticket (SMS, email, or both). Accept the terms and click "Confirm & Pay" to proceed to secure payment.

Upon successful payment, travelers will return to Pravesha and receive options to download or print the digital ticket. Confirmation, including the Ticket ID and QR code, will also be sent via SMS or email.

Tickets are valid only for the selected travel date and activate within 30 minutes, eliminating the need for long queues and making train travel more convenient.

How to pay?

Passengers can pay using credit or debit cards, charged in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) at the time of purchase. Pravesha supports 3D Secure (3DS) payment processing, ensuring high-level security equivalent to global standards.

Digital tickets and payment confirmations are instantly delivered to the provided email or phone number after successful payment. The digital ticket includes both Ticket ID and QR code for easy verification.

This secure, cashless payment system eliminates the need for carrying cash and simplifies the entire ticketing experience, providing peace of mind for travelers.

How to verify ticket at station?

Passengers need to show a valid digital ticket upon entering stations or boarding trains. Simply present the QR code or Ticket ID received via email or SMS. Physical paper tickets are no longer necessary, offering a more eco-friendly travel experience.

No additional documents like printed copies or IDs are required for verification. The QR code or Ticket ID alone is sufficient at station entry points and during onboard checks.

Train staff are equipped to instantly scan QR codes or cross-check Ticket IDs, ensuring smooth and fast verification without unnecessary delays.

Pravesha enhances the overall travel experience by simplifying digital ticketing and verification for both frequent and occasional passengers.

Benefits of Pravesha

Pravesha offers several important benefits that make Sri Lankan train travel more convenient, efficient, and hassle-free for both regular commuters and occasional travelers.

• Skip lengthy queues, especially during peak hours, by directly accessing ticket check-in gates with your digital ticket or Ticket ID.
• Cashless, secure online payments via credit or debit cards, eliminating the need for physical cash.
• Digital tickets with QR codes reduce the risk of misplacing physical tickets while traveling.
• Ability to book tickets in advance for all general trains (excluding Intercity Express Trains).
• Easy online refund requests of up to 70% if travel plans change, eliminating the need to visit the station for refunds.

By combining these features, Pravesha provides a smarter, faster, and safer way to travel by train throughout Sri Lanka.