Additional buses for threatened villages

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday handed over another fleet of buses to threatened villages in the North and East under its accelerated programme to reduce the hardship of people in affected areas.

The fleet consisting of over 50 buses were distributed among 17 depots in the terrorist threatened areas including Pottuvil, Valachchenai, Kalawanchakudi, Dehiattakandiya and Vavuniya, the Transport Ministry said.

The first phase of the programme commenced last month with the handing over of 28 buses to depots in the North and East by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.Under the second phase launched yesterday, depots in the East including Ampara, Kalmunai and Kanthankudi were also provided new buses.

Among the areas which will receive new buses under the third phase of the programme are Horowpathana, Samanthurai, Akkaraipattu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Bibile, Polonnaruwa and Vakarai.

The fleet also included 10 buses to transport army personnel in Jaffna and two buses to transport schoolchildren in the Moneragala area.