SLCTB, profit making institution - minister Welgama

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Minister Welgama

The Sri Lanka Central Transport Board (SLcTB) is an institution that can be improved, said Transport Minister Kumara Welgama addressing the media at the Transport Ministry.

Minister Welgama said the SLcTB is the only institution which earns the highest turnover in cash at the end of the day. No other institution, even in the private sector, earns such a turnover in cash. The minister said the treasury allocates a large amount of money to develop the SLcTB and about Rs 596 million was allocated for June.

“But we lost 15 percent from the income due to improper issue of tickets. “Therefore, the ministry will take measures to reduce this loss in near future,” he said. “The SLcTB looks after a large number of workers. It has 35,000 workers. It is necessary to have 5.5 workers per bus.

“But the SLcTB has 10 workers per bus. Thus, it is not easy to earn profits from the SLcTB,” he said. He added that the SLcTB has a limited number of new buses. “With these buses the SLcTB cannot expect a good income.

Therefore, the government has provided 500 more buses to the SLcTB on our request to provide buses under lease,” he said.