Private buses for festive season

Irangika Range

The Western Province Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority WPPRPTA has deployed 2,000 private buses for the Sinhala and Hindu New Year festival.

WPPRPTA's General Manager P.L.B.R. Wijewarnasuriya told the Daily News, that the WPPRPTA had initiated this special New Year bus service last Tuesday. It will continue until April 13.

He said around 1,400 buses out of the 2,000 have been deployed to the provincial level fleet meanwhile around 600 buses operating in the Western, Province routes have been added to the special New Year bus service.

Special pink stickers have been pasted on each bus for easy identification.

He said WPPRPTA has launched the special bus service from Bastian Mawatha, Gunasinghapura, Kaduwela, Nugegoda, Piliyandala, Kesbewa, Maharagama, Padukka, Avissawella, Katunayake, Avariwatta, Nittambuwa, Biyagama, Panadura and Matugama for the convenience of commuters.

He said this special bus service will operate to various parts such as Kandy, Galle, Matara, Embilipitiya, Kataragama, Ratnapura, Badulla, Monaragala, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Matale, Dambulla, Kekirawa, Galgamuwa, Nuwaragala, Galanewa and Mahiyanganaya.

This special bus service is also due to commence from certain places where free trade zones are located. WPPRPTA has also deployed a special flying squad to nab errant bus operators in addition to National Transport Commission flying squads.