President in a bid to turn SLTB into a profit making entity

By Sandun A. Jayasekera   

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a futuristic mechanism to turn the SLTB into a profit making entity has mooted a set of proposals including a ‘Park and Drive’ system to ease traffic congestion and a school bus service with priority to safety of children.   

He also wants to end waste and fraud by motivating employees at the SLTB and to take appropriate measures to encourage employees, new strategies, minimise wastage and put an end to corruption.
President Rajapaksa has made these comments during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat today to review the current status of SLTB.  He is of the view that SLTB could be evolved into a state organisation that can contribute to the national coffers.

 The President highlighted the necessity of attracting those who are traveling to work in their own vehicles to the public transport system. The President proposed to immediately implement the Park and Drive method. He requested to add buses with required facilities to the existing fleet.   A dedicated school bus service for children should be promoted while giving priority to the safety of children, the President said. It was discussed to paint the school buses in yellow and give preference to school buses on roads. President Rajapaksa emphasised the importance of colour coding for private and SLTB buses.   

Appropriate measures to encourage employees, new strategies, minimise wastage and put an end to corruption were the other areas that came under discussion during the session. President Rajapaksa added that around 4,500 highly-skilled mechanics are working for the SLTB and their expertise could be utilised for outside maintenance work, earning an additional income for the government.  He said that the SLTB is capable of transporting agricultural crops from remote areas to the suburbs, benefiting both farmers and the consumers equally.   

President Rajapaksa advised that the entire process should move forward with short, mid and long term strategies. 

• Around 4,500 highl-skilled mechanics are working for the SLTB and their  expertise could be utilised for outside maintenance work