Ashok Leyland gets contract to supply 500 buses to SLTB under Indian loan

Ashok Leyland Company has secured the contract to supply 500 32-seater buses to Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) under an Indian loan.

Selection of Ashok Leyland follows the evaluation of bids received from three suppliers for the contract and as per the recommendation furnished by the standing procurement committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

A proposal to this effect submitted by Transport Minister Pavithdradevi Wanniarachchi was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday.

Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma told journalists at the post-Cabinet meeting briefing that though the Government has banned vehicles import, the proposal was approved as SLTB aims to deploy the buses in the most difficult and remote areas lacking adequate public transportation. He added that SLTB hadn’t made any bus purchases in recent years.

The original move to buy the buses under an Indian loan was first approved by Cabinet in January 2020.