New service constitution will be introduced to SLTB – Dr. Gunawardhana

The national celebration event organized to mark the 66th anniversary of the Ceylon Transport Board (CTB) renamed as Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), was held at the Medavachchiya regional work site belonging to the CTB.

The event which was held presided over by the Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana had in parallel the commemoration of the then Minister of Transport, Maithripala Senanayake, who took the initiative to establish the CTB by unveiling the commemorative plaque naming the Medavachchiya SLTB Regional Workshop as “Maithripala Senanayake Engineering Manufacturing Factory”.

Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana had given instructions to organize the 66th National Development Festival in Medavachchiya in honour of former Minister of Transport Maithripala Senanayake who representing the Anuradhapura district at the time, was responsible for establishing the CTB in support of the then Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike’s programme of starting national services.

Speaking at the ceremony Minister Bandula said, “With the Mahindagamanaya, the change in the course of Sri Lanka’s history began in the historic capital of Raja Rata. One of the unique eras in that history began in 1956. At that time, two main economic systems were operating in the world, the market capitalist economic system and the centrally planned socialist economic system.

Accordingly, during the Bandaranaike regime, Sri Lanka also started the national service system and implemented the provision of better public service than the private sector. We should all remember with gratitude the mission accomplished by Maithripala Senanayake, who was born in Raja Rata, as the Minister of Transport, who gave iron leadership to that epochal mission. In honour of him, the Medawachchiya factory is named as “Maithripala Senanayake Engineering Manufacturing Factory” and is being made into one of our main factories this year.

The current Chairman, who is an officer with the highest experience in public service, has been entrusted with the responsibility of rebuilding this institution. Accordingly, providing solutions to many long-standing problems has been started under this initiative. Under that, after making a great effort to prepare a proper service constitution for recruitments, promotions, transfers and many others, only a few more parts of work are left to complete. By completing them, we are working to introduce the service constitution before the upcoming Independence Day. Accordingly, our aim is to provide the people with a service constitution that will not change even if the ministers and Governments change.

By doing exemplary work, everyone in the institution should work to make the year 2024 an exemplary year for this institution. Just as five hundred new buses were given to all depots in Sri Lanka in conjunction with the last Independence Day, the Cabinet has approved the procurement of one thousand new buses this year.

Also, we are working to make 2024 the year that electric buses are introduced for public transport services in this country, just like most developed countries in the world. I have also given instructions to the officials to start the e-ticketing project in the next few months to prevent financial fraud and corruption committed by a very small number of staff. Through that, I believe that it will be possible to make SLTB a profitable business this year. Through that, by the 67th anniversary, it will be possible to make SLTB the Government institution that provides the most public service.

With everyone’s contribution, I hope that everyone will have the strength to make the necessary changes in order to reach the goals that could not be reached last year. “

Under the commemorative programme, Service Excellence Awards were presented in recognition of the dedicated staff members for the progress of the institute by the Minister and other guests.

To commemorate the anniversary ceremony, Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana also planted a coconut tree in the factory premises.

Minister of State for Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama, Minister of State for Finance Shehan Semasinghe, former Minister and Member of Parliament Gamini Lokuge, Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Highways Ranjith Rubasinghe, former Minister and Member of Parliament S. M. Chandrasena, Member of Parliament H. Nandasena, former Minister H. B. Semasinghe, former Minister Tissa Karaliyadda, Chairman of Ceylon Transport Board Lalith de Alwis, Chief Executive Officer Mahesh Kulathilaka, Deputy General Manager (Transportation) Panduka Swarnahansa, officers including former Chairmen who worked in the institution, Chairmen and heads of institutions operating under the Ministry, A large number of people including staff members participated in this programme.

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