Cabinet spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said Cabinet approval has been granted to implement a project to add 50 electric buses operated by the Sri Lanka Transport Board to the public transportation system. The Minister was speaking at a media conference held yesterday at the Government Information to inform the decisions taken at this week’s Cabinet meeting.
The bus project has been introduced to use solar energy which can reduce the cost of fossil fuels in the face of the international energy crisis. The pilot project will be launched covering the Western Province. Minister Dr. Gunawardena said it is very difficult for a country like Sri Lanka to bear the cost of importing fossil fuels. The country has to spend Rs.5 to 6 billion US dollars for that purpose. Introduction of electric vehicles is the best way to address this issue. The Minister invited local manufacturers and inventors of electric vehicles to join hands with the National Transport Board for the implementation of the electric bus project.