• 'Thank you' Japan for the buses

• Website for Justice Weeramantry

• Re-establishment of S.L.T.B.

• Ceylon Transport Board

'Thank you' Japan for the buses

The Tokyo Metropolitan Authority through the Government of Japan has decided to donate 177 buses to strengthen the public transport system in Sri Lanka.

These buses were meant for the SLTB and about 17 of the buses have already arrived and distributed to a few SLTB bus Depots.

It is now learnt that the President of the Private Bus Operators Union (who is also a District candidate of an opposition party) has protested to the Japanese Government for donating the buses to the Transport Board instead of the private bus magnates.

The travelling public are well aware of the standard of service offered by the SLTB and the private bus operators.

The SLTB is service oriented while the private bus operators' main purpose is profit making. I am sure the travelling public will say 'Thank You' to the Government and people of Japan and also make it known that the people of Sri Lanka appreciate their generous and thoughtful donation of buses.

Tilak Fernando, Colombo 6

Website for Justice Weeramantry

When there are so many websites for personalities of eminence it is timely that Weeramantry Centre decide to launch a web site on the collection of speeches and books services of the Judge for posterity.

His Association with the Sri Lanka Judiciary and his contribution to the world Judiciary in his role as a peace maker and researcher on human rights law and politics, should be collected and updated with a web page for the betterment of the future generation.

Weeramanthry Centre has involved in promoting and upgrading human rights and deceminating information on resources, culture and international law. A website would facilitate centralization of information undertaken by the Centre.

BANDULA NONIS, Colombo 2

Re-establishment of S.L.T.B.

The travelling public in this country who have been undergoing immense suffering during the past several years due to the chaotic private bus service, will no doubt express a sigh of relief with the announcement that the Government was going to re-establish the State bus service with a bang.

The rejuvenation of the existing State bus service into an efficient and viable enterprise could be achieved if the authorities care to learn valuable lessons from past mistakes committed during the C.T.B. era. A few suggestions are appended:-

(i) Top management positions should be reserved for experienced managers with proven ability, (the likes of late Anil Munasinghe) and never for defeated candidates.

(ii) The same rule should apply to Depot Managers.

(iii) Recruitment of personnel on requests from Ministers and MPs should be taboo.

(iv) Available workforce should be reduced to manageable levels through incentives for early retirement and offer of alternative employment etc.

(v) Bus crews and workshop labour should be, offered attractive incentives so as to enhance productivity. Their motivation is an absolute must.

(vi) All necessary steps should be taken to completely prevent fraudulent practices, both big and small. The writer's experience is that a conductor of a short distance service performed by Udahamulla Depot, charges Rs. 5, instead of Rs. 4, from Nugegoda to Pitakotte, without issuing a ticket, thus robbing both commuter and employer.

There should be no excuse for S.L.T.B. to operate at a loss if good management practices are strictly adhered to.

G. G. J., Kotte

Ceylon Transport Board

The President took a bold step in reviving the Ceylon Transport Board as she understood the woos of the commuters. Actually the Board will have to compete with the private bus services, therefore an efficient service has to be offered to the travelling public otherwise this will collapse.

In my opinion the administrative machinery must be geared up, the key positions must be given to honest retired public servants and not to the henchmen of politicians. Also the time table must be drawn up to cater to the needs of the public in the area considering the importance of the school children and working class.

If this is not done then the commuters will patronise the private sector and there- by the revenue of the board will fall, and it will be a white elephant. The cooperation of the local politicians may be sought to request the residents in the area to form bus travellers associations, so that they could pin point the irregularities of the service.

EBERT PERERA, Kandy