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Even LTTE can start transport service in competition with others - Minister Mrapana

By Nadira Gunatilleke and Sian Woodcock

Buses can be provided to the LTTE too for starting a transport service between Colombo and Jaffna in competition with other operators who have sought permission to commence bus services to Jaffna along the A9 highway, said Defence, Transport, Highways and Civil Aviation Minister Tilak Marapana yesterday. The Minister made this observation after receiving twenty buses rehabilitated by the Kesco (Keppetipola Engineering Services Company) for redeployment at a ceremony at the Transport Ministry at D.R.Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo.

Minister Marapana said that the main objective of the Government is to provide safe and sound buses for the commuters especially those in rural areas of the country. This is one of the urgent needs. "I extend my gratitude to Ravi Wethasinghe for his excellent work and also request him to implement a speedy project to repair buses which need minor repairs", he said. Luxury buses should be operated on long distance routes.

The Minister also said that the transport service is in a very poor condition because of the poor maintenance carried out by the previous regime. The SLCTB and cluster companies has excess staff because the previous Government employed a large number of persons on a political basis. We understand that such employees also have families to look after. Therefore we will solve this problem without retrenching them and creating unnecessary problems for them. There are also several vacancies in the SLCTB and cluster companies for bus drivers and technical staff. The excess workers are in non technical grades.

Buses can be provided for the LTTE also to start a transport service between Colombo and Jaffna which will give an opportunity to them to compete with the private bus operators who have already made requests for such an operation. The LTTE can also have another short distance service between Omanthai and Muhamalai.

Minister Piyasoma Upali said that there are only 6000 buses for daily operations countrywide. Today, there are 44,000 employees in the cluster bus companies. "It is very difficult to run the state transport service under these circumstances". We have launched several programs to upgrade the transport service. Recording times at bus depots and improving night services are two such programs. We also receive complaints regarding the service including bus delays and lack of buses on minor roads, he said.

Managing Director,LATEC,Ravi Wethasinghe said that twenty buses, 20 bus engines and 20 gear boxes which were reconstructed by the Kesco bus assembling company. These buses with technical failures and break downs had been abandoned at CTB depots throughout the country during the last few years. The first 20 such buses repaired under the Government's 100 Days Program will be put on road especially to improve the transport facility in the North.

Over Rs.44 million is generally required to import 20 brand new buses from India, but Kesco has reconstructed these 20 buses at a cost of Rs.15 million thereby saving Rs.29 million valuable foreign exchange for the country. Under this project, the Government had to spend only Rs.750,000 to repair one bus. Similarly, the Government should spend Rs.800,000 to import a new bus engine. But the LATEC has repaired one engine at a cost of Rs.200,000, thereby saving another Rs.600,000 from each bus engine.

If the present duty concession granted to dealers to import buses from India is given to the Kesco bus repairing project too to enable them to import the necessary raw materials, the cost of revamping a bus could be reduced by another 25 percent.

Buses carry a ten year guarantee period or 100,000 kms operation warranty. Engines and other accessories repaired by the company will be given a warranty of 50,000 km.

Mrs.Piyasoma Upali, LATEC Managing Director, Ravi Wethasinghe, Sri Lanka Transport Board Chairman A.L.M.Farook and several other officials were present at the occasion.

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