Govt to begin bus service in eight new routes : Transport boost for Northerners

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Govt to begin bus service in eight new routes : Transport boost for Northerners

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama, Industrial Development and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Vavuniya District Secretary P S M Charles, NTC Chairman Sashi Welgama and SLTB Chairman M D Bandusena discussing public transport issues in the North
The Government will begin long distance bus services on eight new routes including Kilinochchi-Colombo, Batticaloa-Kilinochchi, Trincomalee-Kilinochchi,Mannar-Batticaloa, Mannar-Trincomalee, Mullaitivu-Colombo, Mullaitivu-Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu-Batticaloa in the North and East.
The decision was taken after discussions by Transport Minister Kumara Welgama with Industrial Development and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Vavuniya Divisional Secretary P.S.M.Charles and officers of both SLTB and private bus services in the North at the District Secretariat in Vavuniya recently.
Minister Welgama said new buses will be deployed to commence long distance services on these routes which had been deprived of transport facilities and also to improve the existing bus service in the North.
Meanwhile, the Minister has advised the National Transport Commission (NTC) to accelerate the route permit issuing procedure to launch these long distance bus services to benefit northerners. NTC officials agreed to submit a report to the Minister within the next two weeks.
The Minister also emphasized the importance of setting up a new bus depot at Mullaitivu and instructed SLTB Chairman M.D.Bandusena to provide buses immediately to the Mullaitivu bus depot.
Minister Welgama inspected the Vavuniya bus depot and instructed officials to take immediate action to repair the dilapidated buses.
Courtesy : Daily News