Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana commends SLTB Engineers and Technicians for repairing 200 discarded buses for reuse
Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said the efforts and dedication of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) Engineers and Technicians to put 200 discarded buses back into operation after repairing them, should be appreciated.
He was speaking at an event held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to vest with the public 200 discarded buses which were repaired and put back into operation, according to a concept of Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, to further strengthen the SLTB fleet.
By January last year, with 852 buses out of service at SLTB depots, Engineers and Technicians at 107 SLTB depots and 11 workshops, started repairing them.
Under the first phase of this programme started in 2023, 193 buses were repaired at a cost of Rs. 193 million, and put into operation at an event under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. An additional 201 buses have been repaired at a cost of Rs 270 million, under the second phase.
200 new buses would cost about Rs 4,200 million at current prices. By operating these repaired buses the SLTB will earn a daily income of around Rs. 10 million, at a net profit of around Rs. 4 million.
Speaking at the event, the Minister said, “Following the IMF Extended Credit Agreement, Sri Lanka’s economy has started to breathe again. As a result, the SLTB Chairman and Board of Directors prepared an effective plan to repair 400 buses as per our request. Accessories, spare parts etc. were procured in an economical and transparent manner. The authorities and technical officers of the depots worked with enthusiasm and dedication.
State Ministers Sisira Jayakody, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Members of Parliament Jayantha Ketagoda, Gunathilaka Rajapaksa, SLTB Chairman Lalith de Alwis, CEO Mahesh Kulathilaka, SLTB Deputy General Managers and other officials attended the event.
The post Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana commends SLTB Engineers and Technicians for repairing 200 discarded buses for reuse appeared first on DailyNews.