Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, announced yesterday that the Government has approved a proposal to deploy 100 modern, low-entry, and comfortable buses for public transport through a newly established subsidiary company under the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet press briefing, the Minister explained that the initiative will be launched as a pilot project, with the new buses to be imported and operated along several major transport corridors including Colombo, Makumbura (Kottawa), Kaduwela, Kadawatha, and Moratuwa.
The Minister emphasised that this initial rollout will be state-run, with the possibility of future expansion involving private sector collaboration based on the project’s success. He noted that the initiative was originally proposed in the 2025 Budget and has now received Cabinet approval. The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, and the new subsidiary company will be formed under the SLTB in accordance with the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007.