Plea to rectify SLTB shortcomings

M. Nelson PIYARATNE - Kataragama group corr.

The Kataragama SLTB bus depot is on the verge of being closed, Manager of the Kataragama depot, M.K. Sirisena said.

He said high officials of the Transport Board are reluctant in disclosing shortcomings to the media but it is our duty to reveal these shortcomings to our commuters.

Several months back a bus belonging to the Kataragama depot plying between Kataragama and Buttala ran out of fuel. It stopped in the thick jungle of Yala National Park and the driver and conductor had to walk about four kilometres to get fuel from a nearby village leaving the bus with the passengers stranded, he said.

"There are 69 buses belonging to the depot but only 55 are roadworthy. Others are lying idle due to the lack of spare parts. There is a shortage of 50 drivers and conductors. It is with much difficulties we operate these buses and most of the time we have to cancel most bus turns, especially Kataragama-Colombo buses via Ratnapura and Kataragama-Buttala buses. It is an irreparable loss to the depot," he added.

Buses plying on the Kataragama-Buttala road have to transport food and security personnel to 14 Army and Police camps situated along this road and the depot is losing about Rs. 5,000 per day.

The salaries of the employees and maintenance of the buses have to be done with the income of the depot. If the employee shortage is solved the depot can make a good profit, he said.