No removal of SLTB employees

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: No decision has been taken to remove any employee of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma said yesterday. The Minister denied reports that the Government has decided to retrench 7,000 staff.

The Minister emphasised that it was not the Government's plan to revive the State bus sector by depriving the workers of their employment.

"When one considers the daily income of the State bus service and the number of buses in the State bus fleet, it is clear that the SLTB is overstaffed. However, we do not believe that retrenchment is the solution to this problem," he said.

Alahapperuma said they would take measures to enhance the efficiency and quality of work of SLTB workers through the proper management of their skills and labour. "Our objective is to make the SLTB, the transport service of Sri Lankans by providing a better service to commuters.

"We have already taken the initiate towards this goal by recruiting qualified persons through interviews after 28 years and taking steps to de-politicise the institution," he added.