The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Acting Minister of Transport and Highways

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, regarding the Sammanturai sub-depot, our priority is ensuring uninterrupted service to the public rather than opening new depots per se. We must assess whether continuous service can be provided. First, if we start a new depot at Sammanturai, assign staff, and operate from there, what additional costs arise? Sammanturai is about 12–13 km from Kalmunai depot; buses would have to travel to Kalmunai for refuelling, creating 12–13 km of dead mileage and added expense. Secondly, the integrated timetable between private and SLTB services is not functioning properly. Our first priority is to implement the integrated timetable from Kalmunai to ensure satisfactory transport for the area. If that suffices, that is ideal—lower cost, higher revenue. If not, we will consider starting a Sammanturai depot with minimal staff as a second option. We are already working to regularize the timetable, which is currently ad hoc. We will implement it and observe for a month or two; if services meet public satisfaction, we may continue from Kalmunai. If not, we will proceed with the second option, even at higher cost, and start from Sammanturai.