Metro bus service to become new vibe in public transport: Deputy Minister

24 November 2025 06:39 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 25 Bookmark

A A A

Join our WhatsApp Channel

Colombo, Nov. 24 (Daily Mirror) - The proposed metro bus service will be developed into a new culture and a new vibe in public transport system, which will be the model for the public transport system in the future, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena said today.

He told Parliament that the Metro Bus Company which was established recently will be a new model under the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) with a separate recruitment process, separate salary scale and uniform.

Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake said the pilot project of the metro bus service is expected to be introduce by July next year, initially with 70 buses in Colombo.

He said the recruitment process is expected to be completed by March and April next year.

Comments - 25

ZAK Monday, 24 November 2025 06:58 PM

Creating a separate Metro Bus Company may bring short-term benefits such as modern management practices, improved service quality and a fresh public image. However, establishing an entirely new company with its own recruitment process, salary structure and uniforms could also create unnecessary administrative overhead. If the SLTB already has the infrastructure and experience to operate large transport services, it would be more efficient to strengthen and reform the existing system rather than build a parallel organisation. A separate company may end up duplicating functions such as HR, finance, management and maintenance, which could increase costs for the public or the government. Instead of dividing the system, the focus should be on improving efficiency, transparency and accountability within the SLTB. The Metro Bus initiative is promising, but its success should come from genuine reform, not from expanding bureaucracy.

50 42

Dr Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 25 November 2025 05:29 AM

The new company will slso be like SLCTB as the same people who were working at the SLCTB but loyal to Malumawa will be absorbed into this new company. If another government comes in the future, these JVPiers will destroy the infrastructure.

5 5

Kandaih Balendran Tuesday, 02 December 2025 02:33 PM

Bring more buses instead of double cabs.

0 1

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 25 November 2025 09:22 AM

It is not possible to reform CTB because it is corrupt and bankrupt and any change will lead to strikes which again will effect commuter transport. Therefore it is best to establish a new Company with perfect international guidelines and then kick the bucket out of CTB and make them go to hell.

1 6

RanjithT Monday, 24 November 2025 08:01 PM

What happened to low floor bed units to be put into operation from 25 budget during this year? Just big talk and no implementation. Is 155 still in operation?

68 35

Nihal Perera Monday, 24 November 2025 08:49 PM

Yes. Whatever said and done our gullible people believe. Sad story !!

74 27

viduraW Tuesday, 25 November 2025 08:48 AM

This is the project that you asked. Already tendered and buses will be received next year 2026. it takes time to follow the due process, since these are public funds.

2 9

kish Monday, 24 November 2025 08:11 PM

in the past also ctb ac buses introduced to busy routes such as 154. but the private bus operators some or rather get the ctb to stop operating. you will need to put a stop to private bus mafia first

6 54

Lk Monday, 24 November 2025 08:27 PM

A new concept and now look for Colombo and it is good to develop a metro bus tour around Colombo as another tourism inspiration but what about metro underground or tramp service , Why not plan something like this

13 31

mk Monday, 24 November 2025 08:43 PM

initiate the light rail project without adding more vehicles to the road! Colombo is fast becoming a larger metropolis and its high time we have an efficient tram or light rail system.

2 66

Ranil Monday, 24 November 2025 09:01 PM

Improve the train service or mass transit with elevated Metro trains and tramp car light rail service that can take thousands of passengers in one go bi-directionally. If this service is affordable, safe, accessible and friendly, even school kids will use it.

1 53

Dr Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 25 November 2025 05:26 AM

Yes, this is what is required to be done instead of spending billions on busses that eould be ruined by drunk drivers. In the Greater Colombo area they should develop train service on elevated structures so there is no traffic issues. These trains should be electric so there is minimum environmental impact.

1 6

Dr. Dee esquire Monday, 24 November 2025 09:16 PM

Will it be like painting a discarded tire and placing it as a round-about? What happened to the low bed busses you spoke of during election?

1 4

S K Sirisena Monday, 24 November 2025 11:19 PM

In this island any improvement of anything will last only two weeks. New culture ?? You are joking noh? Sajith Prremadasa once said If you take a coconut scraper to London you will still be scrapping coconuts yes?

0 3

KR Tuesday, 25 November 2025 12:57 AM

A good initiative. But will this now create 3 parallel systems, SLTB, metro and the private bus companies? If the metro is integrated with SLTB and that reformed, it might be better.

1 1

FredSnR Tuesday, 25 November 2025 02:57 AM

A good transport system also needs proper infrastructure, good roads, proper traffic management, and so on for successful implementation. That does not exist at present, hope you will consider all this.

0 1

Mohan Tuesday, 25 November 2025 04:25 AM

What's going to happen to the rowdy conductors and drivers? If they are going to lose their jobs, better look into that too. Hope and pray that they'll not sabotage the Metro buses!

0 1

Ylg Tuesday, 25 November 2025 05:09 AM

Please look into an MRT system for Colombo and it's suburbs. First MRT and later an KRT system to feed the mrt. If v start now it will be done in 5 years. Connect to all major malls. Insist that all high rises to go down 4 basements to connect to the Mrt.

0 2

Sha Tuesday, 25 November 2025 06:09 AM

Commendable! In the mean time its important to limit the number of private buses, basically they own the road. You rarely spot a CTB in 100,101 route. Its better to come up with some registration system and pose some strict policies, if not its hard to manage theese private bus owners and drivers.

0 1

Rogan Tuesday, 25 November 2025 07:25 AM

Nothing will be implmeneted due to politics

0 1

Sam J Tuesday, 25 November 2025 07:45 AM

There will be 1000 protest from CTB employees on this project...issue will be on Salaries. Need to recruit drivers with ability communicate in English a bit so that travellers will be more comeforatble.

0 1

wsw Tuesday, 25 November 2025 07:51 AM

Build an elevated train track from Mount Lavania to Galleface as Phase one, that will take thousands of motor vehicles off the road.

0 1

FredSnR Wednesday, 26 November 2025 02:45 AM

Make sure the buses come on time, according to a time table, there are bus shelters to protect from monsoon rain, and there are spaces(bays) for buses to halt to prevent traffic jams, The basics will have to improve for any system to work.

0 1

Uncle Fish Wednesday, 26 November 2025 06:01 PM

This is nothing new,back in 2017 Arjuna Ranatunga tried to do the same by introducing 2000 electric buses bought from Shepple bus company in Hungary ,Rumour has it certain Union at SLBC derailed his plans by arranging protests.Fortunately that certain union is now in power

0 0

Rajan V Pillai Saturday, 29 November 2025 09:27 AM

Cannot comment till it is implemented and run in Profit. SLTB is a total failure due to appointing Political supporters to positions. CTB which was established by taking over passenger transport by nationalising Private Bus companies in 1956 . Result beginning of corruption in Sri Lanka. Resurrecting SLTB is a inhuman task by any government. Opening a new Bus Company with State Funds may give an opportunity to prove this Government's Management Skills. If the Metro Bus company fails , it will be the first sign that this government has failed.

0 0

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.