The Hon. B. Ariyawansha

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, at the time we consider the regulations under the Motor Traffic Act, we must note that a large number die annually due to road accidents—about 2,700 in 2025—and many more are disabled. Poor road conditions and driver negligence impose heavy costs. These regulations will help curb such harms. Recently, social media showed a container lorry sideswiping another vehicle while overtaking on an expressway; only by luck was a disaster averted. These regulations are crucial.

¶ 02 Since the Minister is present, I must also raise serious corruption and wastage in the transport sector, particularly SLTB depots. For example, the Embilipitiya depot posted a Rs. 35 million surplus in 2019. After the change of government, a different group captured union control, displaced competent officers, and took over depot management, leading to collapse—buses cannot be operated. Though the present government pledged to end such corruption, over a year later, it has worsened. In the Kolonna area, routes like Sooriyakanda and Butkanda have halted services. Spare parts procurement is riddled with fraud; SLTB buses break down within a week of “repairs,” unlike private buses which then run and earn.

¶ 03 At the Godakawela depot, now managed by your union, eight rural services and four long-distance services have stopped. Please intervene: in Ratnapura District—Balangoda, Kalawana, Ratnapura, Embilipitiya, Godakawela—five beats exist; services have even stopped on expressways. In many routes only one bus runs two trips a day; sometimes it stops for weeks, forcing people to walk 6–7 km, even to hospital. The Sri Lanka Transport Board must pay urgent attention and bring a recovery plan.

¶ 04 On roads, many are in poor condition. In Godakawela, the Bibilegama–Palamkotta–Cheththilakanda road is severely dilapidated; buses can only go partway. It is a Provincial Council road but must be developed so villagers need not walk 6–7 km for services, especially health care.

¶ 05 On produce transport: 35% or more of vegetables and fruits are lost during transport, so farmers receive very little while consumers pay three times as much. The main reason is inadequate transport and handling—loading bananas and vegetables roughly on lorries causes damage, raising food prices and losses. Please improve agri-logistics and cold-chain.

¶ 06 On Sinharaja: I asked about protecting wildlife—especially leopards (diviya) and deer—around Sinharaja. Though the Minister assured protection, just yesterday a leopard died in a snare at Nelluwa, Dellawa in Galle. Last year about 20 leopards died; seven due to snares used for bushmeat. Nighttime poaching around Sinharaja is destroying rare fauna. I urge the Environment Minister to act urgently. Thank you.