Ignore politics: Minister urges SLTB employees to improve service

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) had been generating profits during the past three years and its employees should not get involved in politics, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

He said this while handing over the letters of salary increments to its employees at the Ministry Auditorium at Battaramulla recently.

The Minister said that the members of all trade unions should be responsible and provide excellent public transport service.

“Every employee is entitled to his/her own political opinion and he or she also has the right to exercise this right under a democratic society but without making any hindrance to opposing views,” he said. The Minister also requested political parties not to use public property like SLTB buses for political activities.

“I have advised the SLTB Chairman and the Ministry Secretary not to release SLTB buses for political activities. Anyone can hire SLTB buses. This will help increase the SLTB income as well,” Minister Silva said.

The Minister said he was pleased to increase the salaries after six years since 2012.

“Though the circulars were issued to increase the staff salaries we were unable to implement it due to financial crises earlier,” he said.

The members of all trade unions should be responsible and provide excellent public transport service.