The Hon. Ravindra Bandara

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, I move the following Motion:

¶ 02 “Whereas buses used for passenger transport by both the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the private sector are not of suitable condition; and whereas the majority are built on lorry chassis; this Parliament urges the Government to formulate laws to ensure that, in future, only buses manufactured for passenger transport, which are passenger-comfortable and comply with public transport standards, are imported into Sri Lanka for both the state and private sector.”

¶ 03 On our public transport service—specifically passenger buses—Sri Lanka has SLTB (Sri Lanka Transport Board) buses and private buses. It is widely accepted that most do not meet proper standards. Key expectations are passenger safety, comfort, and service efficiency.

¶ 04 Former Senior Customs Director Ranjan Danthanarayana clarified that, around the 1990s, many imports to Sri Lanka were bus bodies built on lorry chassis, with various irregularities. Compared globally, we are far behind.

¶ 05 In long-distance services especially, passengers face severe discomfort. Therefore, this proposal is timely: henceforth, import low-floor buses. This appears in our new Government’s vision. Some may argue rural/estate roads are unsuitable. For example, in Haputale’s Maaladola, standard-length buses cannot operate; short buses are required—even then, they must be comfortable. Future imports should consider all such conditions. The Government must factor this in.

¶ 06 As an initial step, prioritize long-distance services. Private operators might say higher bus prices lead to higher fares. But current buses cause greater harm: higher maintenance costs even for SLTB, non-standard parts, increased environmental pollution. Considering our journey toward “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life,” we must adopt this new approach.

¶ 07 During the Clean Sri Lanka program, many issues came up about buses—removing unnecessary fittings, etc. Though the intent was right, Clean Sri Lanka should not be limited to a pilot. Even for trips, there are few good buses; flashy lights do not mean a quality bus. True suitability can be ensured only at import. Then even a trip can be done safely and properly.

¶ 08 Public bus transport has a long history. The first passenger bus in Sri Lanka operated in 1907 by the private sector, Colombo to Chilaw. In 1958, buses were nationalized; the formal start under Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was on 1 January 1958. In 1977, the private sector was allowed back in. Today there is talk of a “private bus mafia.” Often, private bus associations operate as political pressure groups, prioritizing competition and money over standards.

¶ 09 There are many issues: competition between SLTB and private buses leads to accidents and denies passengers a comfortable journey. Tourism is also affected; many tourists use public transport and witness these shortcomings—not a good image. Even in SLTB, blaring music and inappropriate content are an issue. We should first think of our people, including schoolchildren.