By: Staff Writer
October 11, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s public transport sector has entered a critical phase. Once the lifeblood of mass mobility, the system is now under strain from a dilapidated bus fleet, rampant misconduct among drivers and conductors, serious environmental impacts, and daily hardships faced by commuters. Recent statistics for the first nine months of 2025 reveal a system teetering on the brink — and even the government’s bold reforms face both optimism and opposition.
A revealing audit from early 2024 indicates that nearly one-third (1,904 buses) of the Sri Lanka Transport Board’s (SLTB) fleet is non-operational. Many of these defunct buses are well past their serviceable life: 1,240 over 12 years old, and 1,105 surpassing 15 years, including 630 old Tata buses and 425 Leylands.
In 2022 alone, maintenance costs ballooned to Rs. 2.52 billion, yet rehabilitated buses remained idle raising serious questions about fiscal accountability.
Compounding the hardware crisis is rampant crew misconduct and lack of enforcement. In May 2025, 11 long-distance buses (including five SLTB units) were prosecuted following safety inspections that uncovered mechanical and safety violations.
In April 2025, the Transport Ministry disclosed that nearly 1,000 SLTB drivers and conductors had been sidelined as a result of disciplinary action.
The issue is not academic: on 11 May 2025, a heavily overcrowded SLTB bus carrying 84 people on a 50-seat capacity crashed off a cliff in Kotmale, killing 22 and injuring dozens. The probe cited driver fatigue from overextended duty hours as a likely cause.
Old, inefficient, and poorly maintained buses spew pollutants and consume more fuel per passenger than modern vehicles. The transport sector is thus a visible contributor to air quality degradation in urban zones, particularly Colombo. Long idling times in gridlocked traffic exacerbate emissions.
For ordinary commuters, the impact is deeply felt: unreliable service, increased delays, harassment, and safety anxieties are now part of daily life. Overcrowding and breakdowns are commonplace, and the public’s faith in the system is steadily eroding. A recent bus tragedy in Gerandi Ella illustrated how poorly maintained vehicles and reckless driving continue to put lives at risk.
In the first nine months of 2025, though national transport statistics remain incomplete, wider trends indicate a sharp decline in public transport patronage. A growing shift toward private vehicles and tuk-tuks suggests the public is voting with their feet. (Public transport historically accounted for around 60 % of modal share, but that share has been slipping.)
Faced with mounting pressure, the government has launched a series of reforms:
Digital ticketing by card: From 30 November 2025, commuters will be able to pay fares using bank debit/credit cards beginning with routes already fitted with ticket machines, and expanding over time.
Urban transit overhaul: Lanka Metro Transit (Pvt) Ltd is now operational administratively, with plans to deploy 100 comfortable, low-entry buses across Colombo, Kaduwela, Kadawatha, Moratuwa, and Makumbura.
Terminal & depot upgrades: The Colombo Central Bus Terminal is being redeveloped under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme with a Rs. 425 million investment. Meanwhile, 25 SLTB depots are being upgraded to bolster operational efficiency.
Modernising rail & recruitment: A “Dream Destination” plan launched on 27 June 2025 aims to revamp 100 railway stations nationwide. The government also plans to recruit female drivers and conductors for SLTB and strictly enforce seatbelt laws for bus drivers.
These efforts hold promise. Digital ticketing could reduce fare evasion and improve revenue flows. Replacing worn buses and modernizing core infrastructure may restore reliability and public confidence. The entry of a fresh urban bus operator hints at competition and innovation.
But challenges remain. The government must secure sustainable funding for upgrades without starving maintenance of existing services. The sidelined drivers/conductors raise concerns about morale and institutional capacity. Private bus operators, already struggling, warn that state expansion could further erode their ridership.
And unless discipline, safety enforcement, and transparency improve, hardware investment alone may not prevent future tragedies.
Sri Lanka’s public transport sector is in a perilous moment: its foundational structure is creaking under the weight of decades of neglect. The government’s multi-pronged reform agenda is bold, but success hinges on consistent oversight, fiscal discipline, and strengthening institutions. For millions of daily commuters, the hope is that the gloomy present may yet give way to a safer, cleaner and more dependable future on Sri Lanka’s roads.
