Posted by Editor on March 10, 2026 – 8:23 pm
Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the Authorities expects to ascertain a powerful public transport system that’s snug, protected, environment friendly and dependable for the individuals.
He stated the Authorities is at the moment making ready a nationwide coverage to attain this goal.
The President additionally famous that plans are being ready to introduce new buses that meet correct requirements whereas regularly eradicating older buses from the transport system. Though this can’t be executed instantly, he stated that by a deliberate course of over a number of years the Authorities goals to supply the general public with a contemporary and high-quality bus fleet.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks whereas attending a ceremony held this morning (March 10) at Temple Timber in Colombo to current letters of appointment to 199 newly recruited drivers and 342 conductors representing all districts for the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).
Throughout the occasion, the President symbolically introduced letters of appointment to a number of recipients.
Recalling the sturdy emotional bond that when existed between the individuals of Sri Lanka and the SLTB, the President expressed confidence that the brand new recruits would assist rebuild the establishment, which he stated had weakened over time as a consequence of political appointments and irregular practices. He additionally congratulated the newly appointed drivers and conductors.
Addressing the gathering, the President stated that the SLTB has traditionally maintained an in depth relationship with the general public and that these becoming a member of the service now carry the accountability of restoring its requirements and fame.
He stated bettering the SLTB can’t be achieved by expertise alone, noting that drivers and conductors should deal with passengers in a pleasant and accountable method whereas making certain their security.
The President said {that a} sturdy public transport system is crucial for a number of causes. Transportation prices stay a heavy burden for a lot of households, and uncertainty concerning the reliability of public transport encourages individuals to buy personal autos, growing their bills.
He additionally famous that Sri Lanka spends a considerable amount of overseas trade on automobile imports and {that a} stronger public transport system might assist scale back this value.
Environmental safety is one other vital issue, he stated, including that lowering the variety of autos on the roads would assist lower air air pollution attributable to emissions.
The President additionally highlighted site visitors congestion as a serious difficulty, noting that giant numbers of productive hours are misplaced on roads as a consequence of heavy site visitors. Strengthening public transport, he stated, would assist scale back congestion and enhance financial productiveness.
He additional said that the Authorities is at the moment making ready a nationwide coverage referring to buses to make sure correct requirements in passenger transport. If buses function with out requirements or are overcrowded, the general public will keep away from utilizing them regardless of efforts to advertise public transport, he stated.
President Dissanayake famous that the Authorities plans to regularly exchange older buses with new ones that meet required requirements. This transition will likely be carried out over a number of years in a deliberate method.
He additionally pressured that the behaviour and professionalism of drivers and conductors should attain a better customary, noting that passengers entrust their security to them. The Authorities is not going to permit buses to be operated recklessly or underneath the affect of medication, he stated, including that obligatory legal guidelines and inspections will likely be carried out.
The President stated the Authorities goals to supply a cushty, environment friendly and dependable public transport service with punctual and steady operations.
He introduced that eight new buses offered by the Authorities of Japan are anticipated to reach this month, whereas extra buses ordered by the Authorities are scheduled to reach in August and September.
The Authorities additionally plans to ascertain a brand new firm to supply snug passenger transport providers, whereas older buses will likely be regularly faraway from city areas and changed with a contemporary fleet for short-distance metropolis operations.
The President famous that public transport ought to operate as a coordinated partnership between the private and non-private sectors underneath correct regulation to make sure high quality providers.
He added that the Authorities has allotted roughly Rs. 2 billion within the present finances to supply subsidies for transport providers on rural routes.
SLTB Chief Government Officer M. A. N. Dhammika Ratna, talking on the occasion, stated the establishment is working to strengthen the state transport service.
He stated the SLTB at the moment operates 7,130 buses, of which greater than 70 per cent are over ten years previous, together with 3,848 buses which can be greater than 12 years previous.
The occasion was attended by Minister of Transport, Highways and City Improvement Bimal Rathnayake, Deputy Minister of City Improvement Eranga Gunasekara, Members of Parliament Prageeth Madhuranga, Chandana Sooriyarachchi and Dhanushka Ranganath, SLTB Chairman Jeevaka Prasanna Purasinha, and senior officers of the Ministry of Transport and the Sri Lanka Transport Board.
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