8 January 2020 09:36 pm
Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses which are not fit for road running would in future be removed, after inspection by the Motor Traffic Department (DMT), SLTB Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka said.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror he said most of the buses are not fit for roads and not in good running condition.
About 7,000 SLTB buses are operating around the country, he said.
"Most of the buses operating in the country are more than ten years old and considering their age, buses unable to be repaired will be removed," Mr. Ranawaka said.
The initial inspection tests would be started from the end of this month from the Central Bus Stand in Kandy. Most of the SLTB buses operating in the upcountry are more than ten years old, he said.
All measures had been taken to import 2,000 new low floor buses this year.
"These buses would replace the existing SLTB buses operating in Colombo. Buses removed from Colombo which are unsuitable for passenger transport will be assigned to operate in other provinces," he said.
"Those unsuitable buses would be replaced with new buses with the assistance of the Minister of Passenger Transport Management," Mr. Ranawaka said.
"The recent bus tragedy which occurred in Passara was not due to the running condition of that bus, but because of the road conditions.
"Most of the roads in the upcountry are not in good condition, and are narrow with wide pits," Mr.Ranawaka added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)