The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association has criticised the Government’s reported plan to introduce 600 new buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), calling the move a “national crime” that could further hurt the private bus industry.

Association President Gemunu Wijeratne said private bus operators had no objection to the SLTB receiving even 6,000 buses, but questioned whether simply adding buses would resolve the state-run transport service’s financial and operational problems.

“Whether they bring 600 buses or 6,000 buses, we have no issue. But SLTB will never recover simply by bringing in more buses,” Wijeratne said.

He claimed private buses continue to carry a significant share of public transport passengers and warned that expanding the SLTB fleet without a proper feasibility assessment could negatively affect private operators.

Wijeratne also alleged that the SLTB is losing nearly Rs. 20 million daily, while citing figures presented in Parliament that the Railway Department recorded Rs. 17 billion in revenue against Rs. 47 billion in expenditure in 2025.

He urged the Government to address inefficiencies in state transport rather than merely purchasing additional buses, and said the association was considering legal action over issues surrounding the expansion of bus services. (Newswire)

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