200 more buses for long distance services

BY RAJMI Manatunga

TWO hundred more buses will be added to the State bus sector to strengthen its long distance services.

Transport Minister A.H.M. Fowzie told the Daily News yesterday that the fleet of new buses purchased from India will arrive in Sri Lanka shortly. They will be attached to the long distance service of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).

"We have identified that there is a significant dearth of State buses for long distance operations. The majority of the buses to be purchased from India will be used to expand SLTB's long distance services," he said.

Fowzie said the new bus fleet was purchased under the Government's scheme to bring down 2,000 buses from India to improve the State-run bus service.