Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena launching another phase of the distribution of new buses given to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) under the Indian Credit Line said that new buses worth Rs. 300 million will be deployed to provide transport facilities in rural roads in Anuradhapura. These new buses under the Indian Credit Line are distributed to all depots in the country according to a concept of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr.Bandula Gunawardena, to put 500 new buses into operation, in order to strengthen public transport in rural areas of the country in conjunction with the 75th Independence Commemoration.
Accordingly, in the latest phase of the programme, 27 new buses were handed over for Anuradhapura district.
The Minister who joined the religious observances performed at Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodiya and Ruwanweli Maha Seya attended the distribution of buses along with other ministers and officials.
The Minister addressing the gathering said that due to the collapse of all sectors due to the current economic crisis, the people have to spend more than the income they earn. In such a situation, public transport services provided by the Sri Lanka Transport Board and Railways has provided yeomen service to ease the burden of the public. At a time when the whole world had stopped providing loan assistance to our country, the Indian government realized the importance of public transport in the country and arranged to provide 500 new buses to our country under the Indian loan scheme. Under that, new buses with a value of 300 million rupees will be allocated to the depots in Anuradhapura district. After taking charge of the ministry as Transport and Highways Minister, I changed the tradition of appointing officers to higher positions in institutions. An experienced and qualified professional was appointed to the position of SLTB Chairman, regardless of political affiliations or family ties.
I entrusted him with the responsibility of turning SLTB into an institution that provides public services in a way that is not a burden to the country. Even now, many changes are taking place with good results.
Accordingly, the SLTB has the responsibility to set an example to the country that it is possible to restructure an organization in a profitable manner without any privatization. In the next few months, the digitalization of the issuance of SLTB bus tickets will definitely start.
Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe, former Minister, MP S.M Chandrasena, former Chief Minister Ranjith Samarakoon and other regional political representatives, SLTB Chairman Lalith de Alwis and other officials attended the bus distribution ceremony held at Anuradhapura Vivekananda Stadium.