The Minister said nearly 80 new buses have been added to the fleet in the Eastern Province.

The Government has added 120 new buses to the existing fleet to meet the demand of commuters in the North and East, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

The Minister said nearly 80 new buses have been added to the fleet in the Eastern Province. All depots including three model depots in Ampara, Kalmunai and Batticaloa in the Eastern Province provide an efficient transport service while some of depots have recorded the good revenue,” he pointed out.

Forty buses have been given to depots in Mannar, Point Pedro, Jaffna and Kankasanthurei for the benefit of commuters in the North. He pointed out that an employee attached to the depot in the North will be rewarded for excellences at the 50th SLTB anniversary celebrations to be held on December 30 at the BMICH.

He explained that the transport services in the two provinces were below expectation and efficiency had remained zero for many decades as a result of the terrorist activities. “Despite many obstacles, we were able to fill the existing vacancies of drivers and conductors while improving the infrastructure facilities in these provinces,” he noted.

Almost all depots in the East and several depots in the North are now operational except for depots in Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu. Meanwhile, Minister Alahapperuma together with Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda submitted a joint Cabinet memorandum last week seeking to strengthen the state transport system in the North Province.