Sri Lanka’s transport sector to be modernized with new fleet

1 February 2025 07:14 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 59 Bookmark

A A A

Colombo, February 01 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka’s public transport sector is to be modernised with the introduction of 1,000 new buses including low-floor and super luxury buses to the fleet of Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), Deputy Minister of Transport Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said.

Currently, passenger buses are operated both by the private and state sectors. The private sector is responsible for the operation of 50 per cent of buses on the expressways and 60 per cent on normal routes.

The Deputy Minister told Daily Mirror that though the state-run service is entitled to operate 40 per cent of buses on normal routes, the available fleet is insufficient to meet the target.

“SLTB is required to have 7,400 buses. Yet, there are around 5,000 buses in operation,” he said.

The Cabinet paper is expected to be presented soon seeking approval to import 1,000 buses, including 200 super-luxury buses after an open tender process. According to the Deputy Minister, low–floor buses are the most expensive with each costing Rs.68 million.

“Low-floor buses, once imported, will operate on routes within city limits. Along with that, we will introduce park-and-ride systems. People can leave their private vehicles at the designated places and take the public transport system to travel to city centres,” he said.

Asked about SLTB losing revenue due to malpractices, he said new buses will be introduced with cashless payment systems to overcome that problem.

“Today, both private bus owners and SLTB lose money due to corruption and malpractices,” he said.

Passengers find it convenient to board and de-board low–floor buses.

Asked about passenger fares for low-floor buses, he said, “We will introduce a cost-reflective ticketing price. Probably, fares may be similar to the rates currently being charged for air-conditioned bus services.”

Once Cabinet approval is secured, buses will be imported within 36 weeks.

Comments - 59

BnW Saturday, 01 February 2025 07:22 AM

Great. It is ok the price of the ride to be cost reflective. Those who need decent and comfortable ride will definitely pay. We can't all the time satisfy subsidised price seekers. Each should accept what's affordable and fitting to self.

1 45

Foreign Operators With Government Supervision Saturday, 01 February 2025 01:14 PM

Allow foreign bus operators from France, Australia, Singapore, UK etc to bring in around 2000 each quality buses. This will speed things up and the locals bus mafia’s will get their current terrible act corrected. These foreign entities should run both regular and luxury buses with the standards and expectations of the government. The better the quality of public transportation to densely populated areas, the more people will take them and should reduce private vehicle usage. Also Keep on increasing parking charges to discourage people to drive into the city boundaries.

16 21

Mahila Saturday, 01 February 2025 02:52 PM

GREAT 'EXPECTATIONS'!!?? WELL, ADMIRE GOOD ASPIRATIONS!? GOD BLESS!!?? GOOD LUCK!?

2 7

Danny Sunday, 02 February 2025 04:00 PM

First separate the railway department into two: One is responsible for roll in stocks and pester services and the other is responsible for railway tracks. Allow foreign companies to tender for both. Also, instead of government spending on buses, allow only few private firms to operate and lend money to import buses and get them pay the loan as they operate. Put a monitoring system in place. This is what is happening in the Europe! If a bus operating from Colombo to Jaffna, the drivers should change midway to bus bus on the opposite direction and so he will finish work and go home avoiding accommodation expenditure!

0 1

Gabriella Saturday, 01 February 2025 07:27 AM

Excellent move ! Let's hope the buses will be in better condition than the "brand new" cattle trucks imported for the railways over the years. Congratulations to the Minister for some first world thinking that will produce tangible results. Also, please consider the suitability of buses purchased to ply the upcountry routes.

2 31

CitizenP Saturday, 01 February 2025 07:30 AM

All passenger buses should be low floor buses.

5 27

Nihal S Saturday, 01 February 2025 07:36 AM

New buses are good thing, but you need to change a lot more within the CTB including the image of bus drivers and conductors. Do you have a plan and resources to effectively maintain 1000 new addition?

2 28

Yamuna Ranaweera Saturday, 01 February 2025 02:39 PM

Most modern buses don't need a conductor; the driver can handle all the tasks.

1 9

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 02 February 2025 09:59 AM

@Yamuna, in Sri Lanka you need a Conductor until everyone learns to be honest to swipe the card in and out. Driver cannot handle situations where some do not swipe the card at all.

1 1

Rip Winkle Saturday, 01 February 2025 07:55 AM

Super luxury? I somehow find this description kinda cringeworthy. Just 'luxury' would suffice, don't you think?

6 35

ANTON Saturday, 01 February 2025 08:13 AM

WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THE MODERNIATION OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS.

2 36

ANNE CUNT Saturday, 01 February 2025 07:07 PM

No more ice before starting the bus

0 2

mohan Saturday, 01 February 2025 08:30 AM

Good move.

2 17

DAR Saturday, 01 February 2025 08:36 AM

They can have an agreement with couple of European or American Automobile companies to assemble luxury buses in Sri Lanka designed and build for our requirements rather than importing them overseas. save some dollars. same time we will get good quality environment friendly product design for our road conditions. if we build train carriages, ships and boats. why not buses?

4 24

Charlie Hebdo Saturday, 01 February 2025 12:20 PM

That will not happen as European and American companies don't take bribes.

9 9

L.A.BUDDHADASA Sunday, 02 February 2025 10:13 AM

We do build LOTS of buses. Never heard about Lanka Ashok Leyland or Dimo? Most buses on our roads are built here in Sri Lanka.

0 0

Dr. Dee esquire Sunday, 02 February 2025 10:17 AM

Absolutely no chance of any sane global operator coming in with the type of low bed busses you dream of! At the first discussion with NTC on the fares, they will take the next flight back home. To operate a decent non ac low bed fleet without packing like sardines, the fare would atleast need to match the current ac bus fare. Now try that with our people and see?

0 1

Priyan66 Saturday, 01 February 2025 09:09 AM

Yes very good move. This country needs quality public transport service for both locals

1 18

Anil J De Silva Saturday, 01 February 2025 09:24 AM

Having a proper maintenance facility, equipped with the right tools and staffed with trained mechanics and personnel with the correct attitude, is critical to ensuring the reliability and safety of a bus fleet. A well-equipped facility enables efficient diagnostics, repairs, and preventive maintenance, reducing downtime and costly breakdowns. Skilled mechanics with proper training ensure that maintenance tasks are performed correctly, enhancing vehicle performance and longevity. Additionally, staff with a positive and proactive attitude foster a culture of accountability and pride in their work, leading to consistent service quality. Together, these elements contribute to passenger safety, operational efficiency, and cost savings.

1 21

Sokrates Saturday, 01 February 2025 05:41 PM

There is only one training centre that produces good vehicle mechanics and it is in Ratmalana and is supported by Mercedes Benz. After two or three years of training, the mechanics receive a globally recognised certificate following a final examination. However, almost all the mechanics trained there leave Sri Lanka.

0 0

Anil J De Silva Saturday, 01 February 2025 09:24 AM

Having a proper maintenance facility, equipped with the right tools and staffed with trained mechanics and personnel with the correct attitude, is critical to ensuring the reliability and safety of a bus fleet. A well-equipped facility enables efficient diagnostics, repairs, and preventive maintenance, reducing downtime and costly breakdowns. Skilled mechanics with proper training ensure that maintenance tasks are performed correctly, enhancing vehicle performance and longevity. Additionally, staff with a positive and proactive attitude foster a culture of accountability and pride in their work, leading to consistent service quality. Together, these elements contribute to passenger safety, operational efficiency, and cost savings.

1 7

DD Saturday, 01 February 2025 09:33 AM

Please train the Depot Mecanis and have ample spares for these busses to give a proper service. Make sure the Depots are in order to cater to these kind of busses as today the Depots are like a 4x4 rally circuit with mud pot holes no proper drainage no proper workshops etc. Please let this be an investment and a service not another colossal waste of money and time of the Rax payer

1 16

Rohan Saturday, 01 February 2025 10:18 AM

From where will get the MONEY?? Can't you remember that we are bankrupt???

14 6

The wheels on the bus go round and round Saturday, 01 February 2025 10:29 AM

So there are 5,000 SLTB buses and the private operators have 50% share of the routes. Let's say the private companies also have 5,000 buses. Adding 1000 low-floor buses will be an additional 10% to the existing "dilapidated" fleet. Would you call it a modernised fleet when only 10% of the buses are modern?

10 9

L.Mallawarachchi Saturday, 01 February 2025 10:45 AM

Good. But day dreams. Additional burden on tax payers.Please form limited number of transport companies and bring all the busses including CTB under them. Keeping ownership of the busses under current ownership but management of routes under companies. This will help to maintain as a transport service rather than looking for good routes and rush hours only.

9 8

Mohan Saturday, 01 February 2025 11:38 AM

Do we have the foreign exchange to replace them all at once?

4 6

L.A.BUDDHADASA Sunday, 02 February 2025 10:16 AM

Good question. It is the bus operators who decide which buses are suitable. Why do the operators, including the CTB, keep on importing Indian buses? It's because they are cost-effective, and mostly assembled here, providing employment to many people at Lanka AshokLeyland and DIMO. Even Chinese buses never succeeded here. Those who want First-world comforts in a Third-world country should be willing to pay First World taxes

0 0

Nimal Saturday, 01 February 2025 12:30 PM

Yes this is the best solution. Previous govs also tried this so called modernization attempt. But without modernizing private bus operations, this is juat another empty talk.

1 4

Dr Tissa Fernando Saturday, 01 February 2025 10:50 AM

Dear minister Park and Ride was already introduced before at Kottawa Multimodel Transport Center and few people are using it as majority of bus passengers do not have cars. So it is not that popular. But nice to have that option. Rs 68 million is less than the price of Range Rover. So it is fine to import, but why not import electric busses.

5 5

Krish Saturday, 01 February 2025 01:23 PM

Seriously electric buses? How are we supposed to maintain them ?. We don't have the expertise or the tools. And the price, those are much more expensive. Not to mention the charging infrastructure. Simply doesn't suit us at this moment in time.

4 9

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 02 February 2025 09:22 AM

Charging stations can be built at CTN depots and they could use solar energy at these stations. These buses are good for city transport. Expertise can also be developed so you have to start now.

0 1

Ahmed Saturday, 01 February 2025 10:57 AM

Introduce a three wheeler alternative as well :) Sri Lanka should get rid of three wheelers

7 9

Human Being Sunday, 02 February 2025 11:00 AM

You sound so selfish Ahmed, Everyone deserves an earning for living.

0 0

Sena de Silva Saturday, 01 February 2025 11:18 AM

Courtesy for the passengers important and its totally lacking now. Conductors keep on shouting "ikman karanna"(hurry up, hurry up) and drivers are always on the accleltter and on the brake This has to change.

1 8

Imtias Saturday, 01 February 2025 11:18 AM

Mr. Minister and his team should reveal their personal current assets before and after the project completion I guess.

5 4

Mohan Saturday, 01 February 2025 11:40 AM

Should have proper roads, so that the low floor buses don't get damaged.

1 10

What goes down must come up Saturday, 01 February 2025 05:16 PM

Low-floor buses have a kneel button. When you open the doors, you press the kneel button and the bus tilts so that pax that board the bus. When you are done you press the kneel button and it goes up. It's particularly helpful for the elderly and small kids.

0 1

Yaka Saturday, 01 February 2025 12:00 PM

Modernizing our transport sector is crucial, both bus and trains. However, there needs to be a structured maintenance program and facilities to complement the vehicles. Otherwise, they will end up like the abandoned vehicles in Colombo-07 in a matter of few years.

1 5

FredSnR Saturday, 01 February 2025 12:24 PM

Very good but don;t forget the roads which go hand in hand example Old Kesbewa Road Nugegoda Sri Jayawardenapura administrative capital so city ? crying need for widening from Nugegoda

1 1

S P Saturday, 01 February 2025 12:25 PM

S P Saturday, 01 February 2025 05:14 AM Excellent initiative if it can be successfully implemented. Improving the public transport system is a must. You only have to come to Sri Lanka from abroad to see how shoddy our bus system is. The ‘bone crushers’ we have as private (and CTB) buses, driven maniacally by undisciplined, some times partially drugged ‘drivers’ and controlled by loud mouthed ‘conductors’ is a menace. Are we to live with this ridiculous unsafe system forever? Private cars are nice but they are not an alternative for a decent, comfortable, on time public transport system (of buses and trains). It’s high time these ‘bone crushers’ are taken off roads and replaced by modern low deck comfortable buses with automatic doors like in developed nations. It cannot happen overnight and it did not happen overnight either in the developed world. But we must make a start and now is the time!

2 2

Pb Saturday, 01 February 2025 01:19 PM

The CTB hasn’t done a good job of maintaining the more “rugged” Leyland Indian buses. (When you see the condition of those buses you can see what a massive waste of money it has been.) Giving the CTB these kind of buses might be a very expensive mistake. (Considering each bus is 68 million!!!)

3 5

Mohamed Saturday, 01 February 2025 01:45 PM

Good initiative. Please get rid Ashok Leyland type of buses and Three-wheelers. They are in too many.

2 4

Fazil Saturday, 01 February 2025 01:57 PM

It was muslim transport minister who ruined our transport system by importing sub standard buses from India. This minister received millions of rupees as commission. Please do not let them get involved.

2 5

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 02 February 2025 09:24 AM

My friend, religious background has nothing to do with such imports, don't bring in religion here.

2 2

L.A.BUDDHADASA Sunday, 02 February 2025 10:09 AM

Yes, it is the bus operators who decide which buses are suitable. Why do the operators, including the CTB, keep on importing Indian buses? It's because they are cost-effective, and mostly assembled here, providing employment to many people at Lanka AshokLeyland and DIMO. Even Chinese buses never succeeded here. Those who want First-world comforts in a Third-world country should be willing to pay First World taxes.

2 2

Seeya Saturday, 01 February 2025 02:12 PM

Importing these buses will be very expensive, you are looking at 4 to 5 times the price of a duty paid Leyland chassis bus to be paid as CIF. Best possible option is to start local assembly of these low floor buses. If Uganda can do it why can't we? Leyland and Tata both have low floor buses why not start production here, tell them to scrap the lorry chassis bus production locally.

0 3

Mark Anandappa Saturday, 01 February 2025 02:34 PM

We have heard enough of this , now start implementing . We had the LRT sabotaged by your party , the list goes onn , now its time to walk the talk

3 2

Ricky Breeze Saturday, 01 February 2025 04:12 PM

A good move that has been pending since early 2018. Low floor buses are made by Tata and Ashok Leyland, which is near Sri Lanka. But this will not end road congestion. So talk to Japan and revive the LRT. Travel will be faster. No congestion.

2 2

lion Saturday, 01 February 2025 04:42 PM

Please keep the promise of 36 weeks that means 9 weeks and we hope buses will be on the road 40 weeks from today. We are sure you can do it as present government is hellbent on improving the facilities for the masses

3 1

Smh Saturday, 01 February 2025 05:31 PM

Cost of buses? Was it a loan and to which country do tax payers owe this burden?

0 0

Normal buses better value when so short of buses Saturday, 01 February 2025 05:36 PM

Good idea to get low-flow buses but because they are so much more expensive, better to get ordinary buses. Also with the poor air quality, electric buses are better to reduce pollution.

1 0

Seriously ? Saturday, 01 February 2025 06:33 PM

Seriously, You are not joking no Convenient board and de board ? LOL

0 0

Chammika Wickramasuriya Saturday, 01 February 2025 07:12 PM

Rs. 68 Mn per bus? What is the opportunity cost? Why not privertise and regulate the entire public road transport service around few bus companies as in the developed countries. Why waste tax payers money? We voted for change. Not more wasteful expenditure.

0 1

Ravi K Saturday, 01 February 2025 07:17 PM

Please also re-train these bus drivers to drive sensibly. Most of these drivers drive like under the influence of something and the passengers themselves sometimes shit to their pans.

0 0

THE MAINTENENCE DEPOTS AND STAFF MUST BE TRAINED TO ENSURE SERVICING IS DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS LIKE CARS AND REPAIRS ARE DONE WITHOUT DELAY BY EXPERIENCED MECHANICS Saturday, 01 February 2025 08:15 PM

GOOD MOVE BUT HEST GET LEYLAND AND OR TATA. LOW BUSES ARE MAINLY USED IN COUNTRIES FOR THE ELDERLY, DISABLED AND WHEEL CHAIR AND OR WALKER USING PEOPLE SO IT HELP GETTING IN AND OUT. CORRECT OUR DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS ARE RUTHLESS AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR TRAVELLERS. VUT OUT THE CONDUCTOR AND HAVE A SYSTEM ISSUING PREPAID CARDS, WHERE PEOPLE CAN TOP UP AT SERVICE STATIONS, STATIONS ETC. THIS CARD CAN BE USED FOR TRAINS AND BUSES, SO WE DO NOT NEED CONDUCTORS AND BUS DRIVERS HAVE ONLY TO DRIVE AND PUT OFF PASSENGERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY. OR UNTIL THE CARD SYSTEM IS ROLLED OUT THE DRIVER CAN HANDLE THE USUAL TICKET SALES.

1 0

Tilak Saturday, 01 February 2025 10:03 PM

This proposal to bring in Low Floor Busses have been there for over two decades. At least 3-4 governments have announced the very same thing. I won't hold my breath till this actually happens.

1 1

melville perera Saturday, 01 February 2025 10:58 PM

at the moment the bus floor is 2 feet high and all busses never stop or take in disabled passengers as they are considered an obstacle in such a service. In UK and USA low floor busses have special seating Will such commuters get arrangements with safety belts and the driver is duty bound to help such passengers with the safety belt and then get on with his driving. Will our disabled ever get this facility, At least the govt. thought it fit to provide transport for a blind MP in the govt

0 0

HELP THE POOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED TO TRAVEL IN PUBLIC SERVICE BUSES PLEASE Saturday, 01 February 2025 11:36 PM

THE COUNTRY NEEDS LOW FOOT BOARDS AND OR THE NEW BUSES HAVE THE FOOTBOARD CAN BE BROUGHT DOWN BY THE DRIVER SO OUR POOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED CAN ALSO TEAVEL IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT WITH A PLACE TO STACK THE WEELCHAIR ND OR WALKER THEY USE

1 0

Jamis Sunday, 02 February 2025 03:10 AM

Busses are not the solution. Colombo needs a light rail system with dedicated tracks which don't share the roads. If there is a comfortable, safe and reliable public transport system, there is no need for so many cars. Busses will never be able to provide the reliability.

1 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.