Another 104 Metro Buses for Sri Lanka - Gamunu Shouts

A fleet of 104 new 'FOTON Metro' type buses has arrived in the country with the aim of strengthening Sri Lanka's public transport service. A special ceremony was held at the main production factory of Foton International Company in Beijing, China, to mark the official handover of these buses, and a delegation from Lanka Metro Transit also participated in it.

Lanka Metro Transit states that the arrival of this batch of buses in the country is a significant milestone in the development of the local public transport sector, and they expect to work together with all stakeholders to enhance the travel experience of passengers.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Prasanna Gunasekara, stated in a social media post that these new buses will make a significant contribution to establishing a modern, safe, and comfortable public transport service in Sri Lanka. The Deputy Minister further mentioned that this effort, which will lead the country's transport sector in a new direction, will enable the provision of higher-level transport facilities to passengers in the future, and that all relevant sectors are ready to work together for this purpose.

However, Mr. Gamunu Wijeratne, President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association, strongly criticized this government initiative, alleging that these vehicles, imported under the name 'Metro Bus', are being operated completely illegally. Calling a special press conference, he pointed out that no legal framework has been established for this bus service, and although passengers should only be transported up to the seating capacity, in the current situation, passengers are even being transported standing. The President revealed that there is no separate independent company named Metro, and stated that this is a shadow program of the CTB itself, with the Treasury holding 60% and the Sri Lanka Transport Board holding 40% of the shares. He also challenged the government to publish the daily actual revenue reports of these buses.

Mr. Gamunu Wijeratne also pointed out the technical problems with these buses, explaining that no private buses currently in operation use automatic (Auto Gear) systems because they consume a large amount of diesel. He questioned why no feasibility study has been conducted on the excessive fuel wastage caused by using such automatic gear systems for Metro buses, and stated that it is regrettable that there are plans to import another 100 buses of this type into the country. He further emphasized that the local private bus industry, which is already struggling amidst severe economic difficulties, is at risk of further heavy losses and complete collapse due to this new government project.