Another 500 new buses to be imported

Irangika RANGE

The Transport Ministry will purchase 500 new buses and add them to the existing fleet.

Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) chairman M.D. Bandusena said these new buses would be purchased from Ashok Leyland Company in India.

He said that the new buses will be purchased on easy payment terms. The buses in use are insufficient to maintain an efficient passenger transport service. Addition of these buses will enhance the quality of services provided to commuters.

Cabinet approval has already been granted for this project and 200 new buses will be imported under the first phase of this scheme shortly.

These new buses will be used for both short and long distance routes across the country to ease transport problems.

Meanwhile, dilapidated buses idling at bus depots are currently being repaired and added to the national fleet which has 5,125 buses.

"We are planning to increase the SLTB fleet up to 7,000 to compete with the private bus service," he added.

The SLTB does not want to be a further burden to the Treasury.

"We will not depend on Treasury funds to purchase buses hereafter and raise money through our projects," he added.