Safer School transport service with Orient Finance PLC

Handing over the first bus (L–R)H. Renuka C. Piyasundara, Treasurer, All Island School Children’s Transport Association, Nilantha Jayaneththi, Assistant General Manager, Orient Finance PLC, Iran Chandrakumara, Member, All Island School Children’s Transport Association, Rajiva Bandaranayake, Chief Executive Officer, Orient Finance PLC, L. Malshri De Silva, Chairman, All Island School Children’s Transport Association and K. Lalith Chandrasiri Fernando, Secretary, All Island School Children’s Transport Association

A concept of the All Island School Children's Transport Association was realised through the support of Orient Finance PLC, together with Diesel and Motor Engineering (DIMO) PLC through the implementation of a project to provide financing to facilitate a safe, secure and economical school transport service to children.

Initiated under the theme "Gederin Pasal Dorata" (Home to School), the project aims to address some of the prevailing issues within transport of school children in Sri Lanka and offers a secure and comfortable means of transport for school children. DIMO's latest TATA City Rider buses will be used for this project and financial assistance will be provided by Orient Leasing for those intending to purchase buses to commence a school bus service. Under this initiative, school bus owners approved by the All Island School Children's Transport Association have the opportunity of obtaining fast and easy leasing from Orient Finance. This will not only contribute towards securing safety in transport, but will also provide an opportunity for bus owners to reduce their maintenance cost by approximately 40 percent.

Expressing his views on this new school bus initiative, the Chairman of the All Island School Children's Transport Association stated that the objective of the association was to make sure that children were taken to and back from school safely. He also thanked Orient Finance PLC for providing leasing facilities and DIMO for providing TATA City Rider buses under concessional prices. The inaugural handing over of the first bus was held under the patronage of the Chairman of All Island School Children's Transport Association as well as representatives from Orient Finance and DIMO. Striving to improve the comfort and security standards in school transport, the initiative aims at enriching the future of the younger generation of Sri Lanka through safe transport.