Public transport license to be made compulsory for public transport: Bimal

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Colombo, January 8 (Daily Mirror) - The government is planning to make the public transport license compulsory for public transport in the future, Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said today.

He told Parliament that a special training will be conducted to issue the public transport license  and that the course content has already been prepared.

The Minister said the public transport license will be compulsory for passenger buses, school vans, office transport and taxis as well. 

He said even though the heavy vehicle license is issued at the age of 21, the public transport license at the age of 25.

The Minister said, however, one must reach the age of 30 to obtain the public transport license for school vans and buses. 

He said a six months or one year grace period will be provided before implementing the new condition.

He said some 6,000 drivers have obtained the two-day training for the public transport licence.