SLTB to increase bus fleet to 5,300 by January

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma on Sunday pledged to increase the fleet of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to 5,300 by January next year.

Addressing a ceremony to hand over 20 new buses to the Avissawella depot, the Minister said his objective was to make the State bus fleet stronger than it was during the golden era of late Minister Anil Munasinghe.

The Minister also pointed out that the salaries paid to SLTB employees were far from adequate and that this situation could be overcome only by dedicated teamwork.

The new buses were handed over to the Avissawella depot as part of the Government’s Model Depots programme which seeks to develop the State transport sector.

The depot which presently earns a net profit of Rs. 2.20 per every kilometre aims to achieve a daily turnover of Rs. 747,500.