Ministry to strengthen SLCTB

'The Governments' endeavour is to offer a streamlined bus service to the public by encouraging competition between the State and private bus services. To ensure such a competition, the State bus sector needs to be further strengthened, said Railways, Transport, Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie.

The Minister said this in response to a query made by a representative of the private bus service when he visited the public bus stand near the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya premises on Monday.

The Minister further explaining government transport policy said a consolidated timetable between State and private bus service would not be implemented until the SLCTB bus fleet was further strengthened.

The Minister said, today the Private sector had nearly 18,000 buses compared to the 4,000 to 5,000 buses owned by the SLCTB. This means that the State share in the transport service had dropped to nearly 22 per cent. The State share should be considerably strengthened before going for a consolidated bus timetable.

During his visit, the Minister inaugurated the Kelaniya-Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital bus service which has been revived by the SLCTB after a lapse of about 6 years.

Minister Fowzie accompanied by Transport Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna inspected the Kelaniya SLCTB Depot during his visit.