Special transport services for Vesak

Irangika RANGE

Special public transport services will be in operation in connection with Vesak from May 5 to 12.

Sri Lanka Transport Board Deputy General Manager (Operations) Sarath Kumara told the Daily News the SLTB will deploy buses to and from suburban areas for those travelling to Colombo to view Vesak attractions. It will specially deploy buses for the convenience of sightseers visiting the Vesak Zone in Gangaramaya from April 6 to 12.

He further said special bus services will operate to Seruwila, Somawathiya, Sithulpawwa, Anuradhapura and the Nagadeepa temple in Jaffna.

Kumara said that these special bus services will also operate for the convenience of the passengers who would return to Colombo. Special bus services will also be in operation to the Kelaniya Temple Bellanwila temple, Kande Viharaya temple, Kalutara Bodhi, Kataragama Kirivehera and to the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Railways Operations Superintendent L.A.R. Rathnayake told the Daily News that steps have been taken to operate additional trains in lieu of the Vesak festival during May 5,6 and 7.

Special services will be in operation from Colombo Fort to Anuradhapura, Kandy, Aluthgama,Galle, Rambukkana and Kalutara while two trains will operate from Colombo Fort to Anuradhapura at 8.30am and 6.10pm while two trans will leave the Anuradhapura station from 7.00pm and 8..20am.

Special intercity train will operate from the Colombo fort to Kandy at11.45 am while the special intercity train will leave from the Kandy station at 11.25 am.

Trains will operate from Aluthgama to Maradana at 8.30 pm while another train willoperate from Maradana at 12 pm. Trains will operate from Galle to Aluthgama at 6.30 pm while the return journey commence from Aluthgama at 10 pm

A special train will operate from Maradana to Kalutara at 4.30 am while the return journey will commence from Kalutara at 6.15 am. A train will operate from Kalutara South to Maradana at 8 pm while the return joinery will commence from the Colombo fort at 11.15pm.

Furthermore, he said steps have been taken to add extra compartments to the Omanthai - Matara long distance train.

Special buses for Vesak season

Irangika RANGE

The National Transport Commission (NTC), has taken steps to initiate a special bus service during the 'Vesak' season.

NTC chairman Roshan Gunawardena said these services would be conducted from today till May 8.

Extra buses would be operated from the Bastian Mawatha Bus stand in Colombo and from other inter provincial bus stands in addition to buses operating on scheduled timetables.

He said drivers of special bus services have been informed to commence journeys as soon as seats are occupied by passengers, while normal fares would be charged from the passengers.

He said flying squads will be assigned 24 hours of the day, to nab errant bus operators.

“Stern action will be taken against bus operators found guilty.”