The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is set to further strengthen its fleet with plans to import 600 new air-conditioned buses by the end of this year, while an additional 200 buses will be purchased using SLTB funds, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said.
The Minister made these remarks while attending the official commencement of operations at the Kadawatha Metro Depot premises yesterday (07).
Minister Rathnayake also stated that the number of buses operating under the Metro Bus Service is expected to increase to 122 within this month. A Cabinet paper has also been submitted to purchase an additional 50 buses.
Accordingly, the Metro Bus Service is expected to expand its fleet to 172 buses by the end of this year or during the first half of next year, he added.
The Minister further said that plans are underway to expand the Metro Bus Service beyond the Western Province, with services expected to be introduced in Galle, Kandy and Jaffna.
He also noted that opportunities will be provided to the private sector in the future to operate bus services under agreements with the Metro institution.
