Special BUS services for Vesak

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has commenced a special bus service in view of Vesak. The SLTB special bus service was put into operation for the public travelling to Colombo during the Vesak Week from May 21 to 27.

A SLTB special fleet was in operation from the Central Bus Stand in Pettah from yesterday to transport passengers from Colombo to Galle, Matara, Kataragama, Badulla, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Polonnarurwa and other cities.

SLTB sources said they have added extra buses from SLTB operational fleets in Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara to run this service.

Arrangements have been made to ply buses on routes where places of Buddhist worship, such as Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara, Kelani Rajamaha Vihara and Gangarama Raja Maha Vihara are located to cater to the Vesak sightseers for the convenience of the public to celebrate the National Vesak Festival, sources said.

Buses will ply on the Colombo-Kandy, Kalutara-Pandura and Kalutara-Kandy routes. Special services will be in operation to ensure that the public can get to Buddhist temples during Vesak such as Kalutara Bodhiya, Aluthgama Kande Vihara, Attanagalla, Kelaniya Waarana, Angurukaramulla, Dadagamuwa. The SLTB Gampaha transport division will operate buses to Dalada Maligawa, Gadaladeniya, Ambekke Vihara, Matale Alu Viharaya, Mahiyangana Rajamaha Vihara etc.

Rajarata transport office will also deploy a special fleet to cater to devotees visiting the Sri Maha Bodhi, Mihinthale and eight main places of Buddhist worship (atamasthana), Dambulla Raja Maha Vihara, and Somawathie Stupa during the Vesak Week.

Buses on routes 138, 120, 100,154,155,177 and 145 will be in operation until 1 am. The SLTB cancelled leave of SLTB bus crew during the Vesak Week to provide the public round the clock transport facilities, SLTB sources said.