Committee appointed to investigate allegations of misconduct levelled against SLTB

The Passenger Transport Management Ministry has appointed a special committee to investigate allegations of misconduct levelled against the Sri Lanka Transportation Board (SLTB) by the public.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry yesterday, the committee was appointed on Wednesday and the Chairman of the committee is Additional Secretary of Planning to the Ministry Tilakaratne Banda. Senior Assistant Secretary Naomi Jayawardena, Legal Officer Priyanthi Gunasekera, and Internal Audit Officer V.K.H. Kolitha are members of the committee.

The committee is to submit a report on the investigations in two weeks’ time.

In addition to this, Passenger Transport Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has also guaranteed that the SLTB will not be given approval to import small passenger buses in the future. Henceforth, only luxury buses will be imported and this applies to both the State and private sector, the Minister said at a press briefing held yesterday.

“We plan to increase the luxury bus service and establish a separate intercity service,” he said.

The Sri Lanka Railway Department will also undergo major changes and will be turned into an efficient service. “We will be swift in providing an efficient service with facilities, thus reducing the number of private vehicles on the road and increasing the number of people that travels via public trains,” he said, adding that this change will take place within the year.

He believes that efficient public transport will reduce time and fuel consumption of travel and reduce traffic greatly. By the end of 2022, railway services will also be extended to Hambantota, with major construction of the Beliatta-Hambantota line beginning this year.

The Motor Traffic Department will also be improved and Amaraweera said: “Short-term, mid-term, and long-term plans will be implemented to improve the service and these will be completed by next year.” He added that by 2022, the Motor Traffic Department will be the most efficient service in the country.