SLTB launches special bus service for festive season

By Mangala Pavithranani

Colombo, Dec. 23 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has launched a special bus service with 107 additional buses from December 24 to 27 to cater to increased passenger demand during the festive season, SLTB Chairman Sajeewa Nandana said.

Speaking at a media briefing today, Nandana said the special buses will be added to existing timetables and will operate on routes from Colombo to Gampaha, Kalutara, Ruhuna, Uva, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Rajarata, Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa and Northern areas.

In addition to the 107 buses, further services have been deployed based on passenger demand and areas where train services are limited. Accordingly, 75 additional buses will operate on December 24 and 25, 60 buses on December 26, and 52 buses on December 27.

He also announced that special police security has been arranged at all bus stops in Gunasinghepura and Colombo to ensure passenger safety. Buses will operate at two-hour intervals from midnight to facilitate late-night travel.

Meanwhile, schoolchildren in disaster-affected areas will be provided free transport facilities through the ‘Sisu Sariya’ service throughout December, even without season tickets or school uniforms. The service will operate up to the maximum accessible distance in areas affected by road blockages.

The SLTB Chairman further said that the 1958 hotline will remain operational around the clock to handle passenger inquiries during the festive period.