New rail bus service between Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa

Irangika RANGE

The Government will launch a new rail bus service between Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa today under the "Negenahira Navodaya" program.The inauguration will take place at the Polonnaruwa railway station under the patronage of Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa, Transport Minster Kumara Welgama and Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake.

The Indian Government had granted 10 buses to Sri Lanka and requested the Government to deploy them in the Eastern Province.

"Following the Indian government's request, we have already commenced three rail bus services to strengthen public transport in the Eastern Province," Sri Lanka Railways' Commercial Superintendent Vijaya Samarasinghe told the Daily News.

These buses had been converted into rail-buses suitable for local conditions at the Railway workshop in Ratmalana.

The new railway bus was designed by local engineers connecting two buses modifying it to run on the railway line. The value of a rail bus is around eight million rupees and has 80 seats.