Wheelchair accessible buses to be imported :

SLTB to help differently abled

Irangika Range

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) will import wheelchair accessible buses for the convenience of differently able people.

Deputy Transport Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake said during an inspection tour of the Kataragama bus depot that there are eight buses currently in operation which can accommodate wheelchairs in them. This is not enough to cater to the special needs of differently able who comprise seven percent of the population.

The Minister said travelling by public transport is a struggle for differently able people as they are compelled to seek the support of fellow passengers to board the buses.

He said the rights of differently able people should not be ignored.

The Government is committed to provide those with disabilities equal access to a range of opportunities. “The Government will call for tenders for the import of wheelchair accessible buses by the mid 2011,” he said.

Deputy Minister Dissanayake said buses would be equally allocated among 107 depots to cater to the differently able people.