Sri Lanka’s passenger bus service is to be revitalized with the aim of making public transport more convenient and efficient under the present regime by continuing the previous government’s programme of strengthening the bus fleet.
The Ministry of Passenger Services Management will be importing 2,000 more buses from China to strengthen the public transportation services going ahead with the previous government’s plan to import hybrid buses.
The procurement plan to purchase the buses from China has been finalised and they were to expedite the process and selected Chinese bidder calling for open tenders.
Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ex Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga had deployed nine new luxury buses purchased from China to Sri Lanka's Transport Board (SLTB) to upgrade the country's public transportation sector,
It was manufactured by China's "King Long" company to the transportation sector in order to provide safe and secure journeys for the millions of people using public transport daily.
But the programme was temporary suspended due to change of government following the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the President of Sri Lanka
it is estimated that by 2030, more than 60 percent of the Sri Lankan people will depend on the public transport to travel to capital Colombo.
The Ministry of Passenger Services Management has decided to continue previous regime’s agreement with the Chinese Company to import 2,000 buses to strengthen the public transportation services.
Accordingly, buses with lower foot-boards which are in use in many countries including Japan, China and Malaysia will be imported, the Ministry said further.
The buses that shuttle in Sri Lanka do not pay attention to either convenience or safety of the passengers, thereby cause great difficulties to them.
As a solution to this issue, the Ministry decided to import buses that are more safe and convenient for travel. According to the Ministry Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) will be assigned to run these buses.
Several of these buses are currently in use in Colombo, Maharagama and some other urban areas.
The Ministry of Passenger Services Management says that measures have been taken to import 2,000 buses to strengthen the public transportation services.
Accordingly, Rs. 1,750 million has been allocated to import buses with lower foot-boards which are in use in many countries including Japan, China and Malaysia, the Ministry said further.
(LI)