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Wednesday, November 11 2026
Wednesday, November 11 2026
MONETABRIEF – Sri Lanka has granted permission to Chinese manufacturer EHang to test its fully autonomous aircraft as part of plans for a possible drone-taxi service from Colombo, aviation authorities said.
The Civil Aviation Authority said EHang had been licensed to test its two-seater, pilotless EH216-S electric aircraft, which has vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) capability.
EHang demonstrated the drone with a three-minute flight at Colombo Port City, carrying Ports and Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka and his deputy, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, as its first passengers.
WATCH VIDEO OF THE CHINESE DRONE TAXI TAKING OFF HERE
Minister Karunathilaka described the initiative as a historic landmark in the expansion of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector and domestic aviation.
Kodithuwakku said Sri Lanka was joining a global race to introduce passenger-drone services. Two dozen countries have tested the aircraft for passenger transport, but it is so far licensed for commercial operations only in China.
The deputy minister said the aircraft would be tested for about five months before a decision was made on whether to allow commercial passenger transport.
Aviation officials said they were keen to explore the EH216-S’s logistics capabilities. The aircraft is powered by 16 electric motors and 16 propellers. It carries 12 battery packs, has a maximum take-off weight of 620 kilograms and can fly for 25 minutes, covering up to 30 kilometres.
The distance from Colombo to the Bandaranaike International is about half an hour on the expressway.
According to the manufacturer, the aircraft is controlled remotely from a central control centre and features automated safety protocols that activate in emergencies or if communication signals are lost.
The test-launch event was attended by representatives from EHang Holdings Limited and the Chinese Embassy, along with officials from Sri Lanka’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL). (Colombo/Nov 11/2026)
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