COPA hears public transport’s rough ride

• Purchase of spare parts including tires for SLTB buses has become a problematic situation due to rising costs
• Ministry officials reveal that diesel issued for some private buses is sold at a higher prices
• Out of 160 train compartments brought from India, 103 have not yet been put into use

The purchase of spare parts including tires for Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses is in a problematic situation in the current competitive market due to the increase in prices, the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) was told recently.

This was revealed when the Committee met under the chairmanship of MP Tissa Vitharana to examine the plans developed under the Ministry of Transport and Highways to provide efficient transport services to the general public under the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka.

Officials of the Ministry of Transport and Highways explained to the Committee about the future plans of the Ministry and pointed out that due to rising prices, it has become problematic to buy spare parts for buses in today’s competitive market. They said there have been problems especially in making purchases after calling for tenders.

They also said that even though the public transport service should be further developed, it has become a problematic situation for a public institution to buy equipment at the current prices and get profit.

Also, there was a discussion about the delayed importation of railway compartments that were planned to be imported to Sri Lanka under Indian loan subsidies in the year 2017.

COPA members questioned the officials about the non-use of 103 out of the 160 railway compartments purchased. Accordingly, the officials said that the vacuum brake system is in operation in this country and some of these train compartments are of the air brake system. The MPs asked who gave the approval for purchasing non-compliant train compartments. Thus, it was stated here that the officers are responsible for the decisions taken.

The Committee also discussed providing diesel to private buses through filling stations belonging to SLTB depots. The officials specially pointed out that some private buses are getting diesel from these fuel stations and selling it at a higher price. They stated that it is cheaper for bus owners to sell diesel at a higher price than to run buses on the route.

Accordingly, the Committee pointed out that this situation should be controlled and the public should be prevented from being inconvenienced, and a system should be developed to check whether the buses that pump fuel from the depot filling stations are running. Especially, the possibility of applying of G.P.S. technology for buses was also discussed here.

In addition, it was also revealed that although $ 1,056,555 was spent on the Sri Lanka Railways Master Plan in 2017 based on the financial grants of the Asian Development Bank, the same was not included in the ministry’s budget or financial statements. Accordingly, a report on this was recommended to be given to the COPA. Also, there was a discussion about combining railway transportation with new technology.

MPs Tissa Attanayake, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Niroshan Perera,  Duminda Dissanayake, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Upul Galappaththi,  B.Y.G. Rathnasekara and Harini Amarasuriya were present at the meeting.