Public transport services should improve: President

President Maithripala Sirisena says it is essential to make the transportation service a pleasant one to the public.

The President said this at a discussion held at his office regarding maintaining a regular transportation service and uplifting the quality of the public transportation service.    

Long discussions were held in order to monitor the progress of the Sahasara Niyamu Project introduced in 2016 in order to introduce a quality transportation service to the country and find out how to drive the project forward in order to deliver a better service in the future.

President Sisirsena directed the officers’ attention towards ensuring the public used public transportation instead of alternative transportation methods by improving the country’s public transportation; reducing traffic congestion in the country thorough that to ensure the security of the public and making public transportation a mechanism which was friendly to the public.

The transportation issue has hurt the country’s economy, contributing to the inability to travel in a timely fashion, crowded buses, travellers being tired, a lack of a decent service and other issues which affect travellers as well as creating competition between the bus owners through a low salary as well as preventing bus employers from gaining professional dignity.

Even though 65% of the entire public used public transportation in 2008 it had now reduced to 45%. This was evident through research. This has occurred due to the issues that had arisen in the transportation field, forcing travellers to move towards alternatives day by day. 

Discussions were held to change this situation and bring out a proper public transpiration service to the country.

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagywanna were among those present at this event.