Impetus for public transport in North – Minister Dr. Gunawardhana

Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said that Public passenger transport services in the Northern Province should be developed and strengthened. The Minister was speaking at the presentation of appointment letters to 25 new bus drivers and three bus conductors who were on contract basis to resume the running of SLTB buses which had stopped operating due to the shortage of drivers and conductors in the Northern Province including Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Wanni. The ceremony took place at the auditorium of the Ministry of Transport and Highways.

“Due to the economic recession in the country it is not possible to make any recruitment for the public service in the next three years”, the Minister said. He said that the government is not able to make new recruitments and pay salaries to those personnel. “Last year, 72% of the Government’s total tax revenue was spent on government employee salaries and pensions. Another 28% was spent on Samurdhi and other subsidy payments. Dr. Gunawardhana said that the entire tax revenue has been spent on these activities. However, as a Government, interest has to be paid on the loans obtained earlier. Rs. 1,765 billion in loan interest was paid last year. Apart from that, all the other development works have been done by taking loans. The Government will not be able to obtain more loans until the loans taken so far are restructured.

Some politicians, including trade unions, have not understood this truth. It is not possible to understand this situation without acting as a Government with State power. Someone who has not been in such a position of responsibility can make any type of statement. But a Government is not capable of acting irresponsibly like that.

When I took charge of this ministry as the Minister, there was a situation where it was not even possible to pay salaries at 39 depots. So far, the number of these depots has been reduced to nine. Despite all the difficulties, we were able to make new appointments to SLTB based on the essential condition of public transport. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to properly fulfil the responsibility of these appointments. We are working to implement discipline and law thoroughly against anyone who is involved in fraud, corruption and irregularities.

After passing this difficult period and making the company profitable, the appointments of everyone recruited on contract basis will be confirmed. Its existence depends on the development of the Sri Lanka Transport Board. It is everyone’s responsibility to work hard for a better tomorrow.

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda, Wanni District Member of Parliament Kulasingham Thileepan, Sri Lanka Transport Board Chairman Lalith de Alwis, Chief Executive Officer Mahesh Kulathilaka and a group of officials and appointees were present on this occasion.

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