Kandy town bus service moves today

BY E. WEERAPPERUMA

THE Sri Lanka Transport Board will start the Kandy town bus service from today providing a better service to hill country commuters.

Transport Minister A. H. M. Fowzie told the Daily News that the Kandy town new bus service would have about 17 buses within the city limits fulfilling a long felt need.

He said this new service would be expanded to other cities and residents in Negombo would benefit from a similar service soon.

The Minister also plans to provide 10 buses for the Negombo depot.

Fowzie said with the re-commencement of the Colombo-Katunayake Highway Road, arrangements would be made to improve byroads which would help reduce traffic congestion.

Asked if there were plans for a new train service from Negombo to Fort via the banks of the Puttalam Canal, the Minister said plans were on to introduce a new train service from Hunupitiya to Colombo Fort soon.

Fowzie requested the public to send in writing complaints about the transport service and their experience to him.

"There are many areas that need to be corrected within the SLTB and I am on the path of correcting them," Fowzie said.

He said: "Once I have revamped the SLTB, many public issues would be sorted out. I am aware that the public find it rather difficult to get buses after mid-night.

Commuters in distant areas suffer the most. I want public cooperation and if they inform me in writing it will be easy for me to take remedial measures where necessary."