Officers from the special raid unit of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) recently uncovered a major counterfeit ticket scam on the Southern Expressway. During a routine inspection on a SLTB bus traveling from Kadawatha to Galle, 52 passengers were found to be using fake tickets. The bus’s two conductors and the driver were arrested and handed over to the Kadawatha Police, later appearing in the Mahara Courts and being remanded.
The total amount defrauded from the counterfeit tickets amounted to Rs. 49,400, with each passenger paying Rs. 950 for a one-way fare between Kadawatha and Galle.
SLTB Chairman Lalith De Alwis has initiated an internal investigation into the incident. Additionally, Transport, Highways, and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana revealed that the SLTB Chairman filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) about frequent reports of counterfeit tickets being issued to passengers on SLTB buses operating on the Southern Expressway. The CID is currently conducting an investigation into the matter.
SLTB buses on the Southern Expressway operate without conductors, and tickets are issued before the journey. However, it has come to light that a systematic scheme is pilfering the income due to the SLTB by issuing counterfeit tickets. Another inspection on a bus traveling between Embilipitiya and Makumbura revealed that 17 out of 24 tickets issued were counterfeit, resulting in an embezzlement of Rs. 17,770 for that single journey.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, the CID has now launched a comprehensive investigation into the income of all SLTB buses operating on the Southern Expressway. The authorities are determined to apprehend those responsible for this fraudulent activity and ensure the integrity of the transportation system.
