Minister request bus drivers to ensure Blaring music banned in buses from Jan 15

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama 

Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday requested all bus drivers to stop irritating music and videos from being played in passenger buses from January 15. 

Speaking at the event which held to the distribution of CDs comprising a thousand songs said the ministry will give time to obtain those CDs until January 15.   

“Many music videos played in buses are inappropriate for children. New regulations will apply to both private and SLTB buses. The NTC has the right to take legal action against bus drivers and conductors based on public complaints. Passengers are requested to call hotline number 1955 to lodge complaints on blaring music or if buses travel unusually slow to pick up more passengers,” he said, adding that these decisions were taken following a survey conducted using a sample of 1,500 people from diverse cultures.   

A playlist comprising a thousand songs, evaluated by a committee of professionals, was distributed to bus drivers and conductors in an event held at the Makumbura Transport Hub.   
Meanwhile, Transport Services Management State Minister Dilum Amunugama clarified that the playlist was not a must. Speaking at a news briefing yesterday, he said the law was about stopping jarring music in buses and not the use of the playlist.   

“This is optional. It came as a replacement for irritating music so that bus owners could use it. This is not about buses playing what we want them to play. But we do hope there will be requests from the public in this regard,” he said.