April 16, Colombo (LNW): Private bus operators across the island have begun scaling up services, with around half to three-fifths of the fleet expected to be on the roads from today, according to industry representatives.
Officials from the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association indicated that a full return to normal operations is likely by tomorrow as travel demand steadily improves following the festive period.
Association leadership noted that passenger turnout remained unusually low yesterday, despite it being a working day. Many buses reportedly ran with minimal occupancy, reflecting a slower-than-anticipated return of commuters after the New Year break.
In parallel, railway authorities have taken steps to strengthen train operations in response to the gradual rise in passenger movement. The Department of Railways confirmed that an expanded timetable is in effect from today, with roughly 120 train journeys planned.
Regular office trains are continuing to run during peak morning and evening hours to accommodate daily commuters. In addition, several supplementary services have been organised to manage increased travel over the coming days. Among them are special trains operating along the southern line, including services to and from Matara, particularly timed to cater to weekend travellers returning after the holidays.