Limited number of private buses to operate today

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board Kingsley Ranawaka says 5,000 SLTB buses will be deployed for operations from today.

The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association said a limited number of private buses will operate today.

Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said bus owners informed him that only a limited number of buses will operate in the Colombo and Gampaha Districts.

However Wijeratne noted inter-provincial buses will only travel to certain limits, noting for example some buses arriving from Ratnapura or Embilipitiya will end their commute in Avissawella, buses arriving from Puttalam will stop in Negombo, buses operating along the Galle Road will end journey in Panadura and buses commuting along the Kandy Road will stop in Nittambuwa.

The Chairman said from these points onward, buses will operate along standard routes within district limits.

Wijeratne said practical concerns such as maintaining social distancing within buses could be a concern.

He stressed private bus owners urged authorities to approve fuel concessions for private buses, or an increase in fares for long distance buses in order to ensure a safe transport system for the public.

However, he lamented that the Ministry of Transport did not respond to their requests.