Women crew for buses

Irangika RANGE

The Sri Lanka Transport Board has decided to recruit women drivers and conductors, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said.

The minister while launching the new women's special bus service from Kottawa to Pettah, said this opportunity will boost women's empowerment while providing a solution to the harassment of women in commuter buses.

Plans are underway to start the women's special bus services across the country to provide safe and comfortable journey to women commuters.

This would be a big help especially to working women, the minister said.

He said that the SLTB plans to commence women's super luxury bus service once the Matara-Colombo highway is opened. Women drivers and conductors will be deployed for this service.

Women drivers are generally more cautious than men and therefore, the safety of the passenger is very high. "We will give them the necessary training for the job just as they would do with male drivers," he said. This opportunity will also allow female drivers and conductors to exhibit untapped skills.