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Will turn SLTB into profitable institution by 2025: Bandula
A programme is underway to turn the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) into a profitable institution by 2025, Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.
While addressing a ceremony to hand over appointments to 97 SLTB bus drivers and 64 conductors, the Minister said that in the past when the SLTB had suffered losses, money was received to through the treasury to maintain it.
"Money was received not directly but as loans to sustain loss-making institutions. The money was used to pay the salaries and cover the other expenses of the loss-making institutions. At present, as a country, it is not possible to pay loan installments, so it is not possible to obtain new loans," he said.
"The new buses that the SLTB received under the Indian loan scheme cost Rs. 11.5 million. At least Rs. 5,000 will be spent each day on a bus to repay that loan to India. Accordingly, Rs. 150,000 must be spent on each bus monthly," he said.
"Therefore, everyone should resolve to give all the money they earn through their duties to the SLTB. It is everyone's responsibility to wake up in the morning, take the bus on time, issue a ticket to every passenger and deliver the proceeds to the SLTB at the right time.
"Also, everyone should be careful not to engage in financial frauds. Strict action will be taken against those who commit financial frauds or engage in corruption, regardless of their ranks. Due to financial frauds the SLTB loses a sum of Rs. 2 million daily.
"Due to reports that some members of the SLTB's Flying Squad were involved in ticket fraud, the unit was disbanded last week. There is an investigation process at corporate level into those involved in fraud or corruption, according to the new Bribery Act.
"In the future, a new phone number will be provided to report fraud. Frauds and corruption can be reported through this number. We will protect the confidentiality of the complainants. We will not protect anyone who cheats and represent you in cases of harassment, whether at work or outside," the Minister said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)
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