Sri Lanka private bus owners condemn plan to add 600 SLTB buses

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association criticised the government’s proposal to introduce 600 additional buses into the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). Association President Gemunu Wijeratne called the move a “national crime” and argued that simply increasing the fleet would not resolve SLTB’s financial and operational problems. He said, “Whether they bring 600 buses or 6,000 buses, we have no issue. But SLTB will never recover simply by bringing in more buses.” Wijeratne warned that expanding the state‑run fleet without a proper feasibility study could hurt private operators, which already carry a large share of public‑transport passengers. He also alleged that SLTB loses nearly Rs 20 million daily and suggested the government focus on inefficiencies rather than purchasing more buses, noting the Railway Department’s Rs 17 billion revenue versus Rs 47 billion expenditure in 2025. The association is considering legal action over the expansion plan.