Impacts of COVID-19 on travel behavior in Colombo Metropolitan Region, Sri Lanka

Nesha Ranaweera, Amila Jayasinghe, Akalanka Jayasinghe, Sahan Sathsarana and Chethika Abenayake

Chapter 2 in Research Handbook on Transport and COVID-19, 2025, pp 11-49 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic posed a considerable threat to travel behavior in Sri Lanka, prompting the government to implement various travel restrictions, particularly in the Colombo Metropolitan Region, to curb daily cases and fatalities. Despite this, limited research has been conducted to examine how the pandemic has affected travel behavior across different socio-demographic groups and to explore the influence of safety measures on travel behavior, particularly in developing countries like Sri Lanka. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel behavior among various socio-economic groups and its correlation with protection motivation regarding travel-behavior changes during the pandemic. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey. Key findings highlight a significant shift in travel frequency and distance traveled during the pandemic, with higher-income groups experiencing a greater reduction compared to lower-income groups. Analysis of the relationship between protection motivation and travel-behavior changes reveals that a heightened sense of protection from COVID-19 positively influences travel frequency, distance traveled, and the choice of public transportation modes. These findings carry substantial implications for transportation and urban planning in Sri Lanka, especially in navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic and transitioning to the new normal.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Protection motivation; Travel behavior; Travel frequency; Travel mode; Travel distance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781802208009
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