President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stressed the need to maintain more efficient and quality public transport services to attract passengers.
The people have been severely inconvenienced due to the increase in oil prices and at the same time, there is a high demand for public transportation.
The President said more facilities will give relief to the people.
The President was at a discussion on the progress review of the Transport and Highways Ministry at the President's House in Colombo on Thursday (9).
The need for a systematic supply of fuel to trains and buses was discussed at length at the meeting. It was also decided to take steps to supply fuel to private buses at night through the petrol stations owned by the Transport Board.
It was also decided to expand the Park and Drive System and reduce parking charges. The President also advised to check immediately the possibility of providing parking facilities near selected railway stations.
It was also proposed to use the active timetable for the SLTB and private buses for short-distance journeys. Steps will be taken to launch new train services targeting office services and to increase the number of compartments for trains now in operation. It was agreed to resolve the salary issue of the SLTB employees and also decided to submit the relevant Cabinet paper soon.
It was also revealed that a plan to lease the reserved lands owned by the Railway Department for food crops for one year. Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said that the Divisional Secretariats are planning to provide the relevant lands to the farmer societies at a very low tax rate.
Chief of Staff to the President Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry R.W.R. Pemasiri, Heads of line institutions and representatives of Private Bus Associations were present.
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