Transport and Highways Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said that the Sri Lanka Transport Board will be provided with 1,000 buses in the upcoming budget. He said this while addressing a public meeting held in Harispattuwa.
“We will be providing 1,000 buses from the upcoming budget. That work will be completed by August. These are not tin buses attached to lorry bodies. They are buses suitable for passengers to travel comfortably. There should be 7,400 SLTB buses. There are only 5,200. Even those are dilapidated. The introduction of 1,000 buses is a big change. Currently, we have a huge shortage of drivers and conductors. There are 107 depots. Only Uva has a surplus.
There is a shortage of drivers, conductors and mechanics in depots in all other provinces. We are recruiting them. He said that a combined private and SLTB bus service will be introduced.
He mentioned that the issuance of tickets on buses will be stopped and a card system will be introduced instead.