The Hon. Muhammad Faizal

¶ 01 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Assalamu Alaikum! Ayubowan! Vanakkam!

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, before I speak on today’s Bill, I must note a matter raised this morning regarding Israel. Some Opposition members claimed our government permitted and protected four Israeli religious centers. But those four centers were registered and built during the times of the UNP, UPFA, and the “Pohottuwa” governments. The partners now shouting from the Opposition benches were then in government. The National People’s Power (NPP) will not engage in such divisive acts.

¶ 03 The National Transport Commission Act, No. 37 of 1991, aimed to provide convenient and safe transport, introducing services like student, rural, and night services. Student services still operate, but there are many shortcomings due to mismanagement by previous governments. Our NPP government must now undertake major improvements.

¶ 04 Student bus facilities show overcrowding; children, neatly dressed, suffer due to congestion. The roads they travel are also in bad condition; during rains, waterlogging forces parents to carry children to buses. Previous governments neglected these issues, so now a heavy burden is on the NPP government. Alhamdulillah, we are making arrangements to improve student transport, local and long-distance routes, and ensure better private and public services.

¶ 05 Night services had been introduced by the NTC but were not properly enforced. Civil servants travelling to distant offices and returning after 9 p.m. find no buses. From Puttalam to Karaitivu or to Colombo after 9 p.m., there are no services. Long-distance buses from Akkaraipattu or Kalmunai lack proper stopping facilities in Puttalam. Similarly, train services have been curtailed—where there were 12 trains from Colombo to Puttalam, only a few now run to Chilaw and only four from Chilaw to Puttalam. Trains are affordable and popular; restoring services is important.

¶ 06 At the Puttalam bus depot, the building is dilapidated; sanitation is poor; flooding occurs; internal lanes are substandard. We have discussed rectification with ministries. Fuel filling arrangements for buses from distant areas are inadequate, especially during power cuts. We have arranged to upgrade the filling station and provide a generator. We have also advised on training for drivers and better depot administration and maintenance.

¶ 07 Puttalam is an economically significant district and an emerging urban and tourist area, yet roads and bus services are inadequate. The coastal “watch road” from Baththalangunduwa–Udappuwa–Andimunai–Karamba to Kalpitiya can be developed into a proper coastal road. A bridge from Karaitheevu to Kalpitiya would allow emergency access to hospitals. A bridge between Nuraichcholai and Puttalam would help move large volumes of vegetables and exports quickly. Our government is making arrangements to implement these in due course.

¶ 08 Nationwide, we plan to modernize bus stands and railway stations, and import more vehicles and buses to provide safe, convenient services. Driver training will be improved to reduce accidents. We have also purchased aircraft to improve air transport, support development, and grow the economy.

¶ 09 Although many shortcomings are pointed out, they stem from past mismanagement. Our NPP government will resolve them and provide a better life and transport services to the people.

¶ 10 Thank you.