School buses to be given right of way: SLTB

This will be completed by the time schools reopen for the third term,” he said.

The SLTB has also requested the Government for 300 buses to be used exclusively to transport school children from Grade One to Five.

“At present under the Sisu Seriya school bus service, the SLTB transports students from Grade Five and above, due to a limited availability of buses. Our aim is to improve the school bus service, so students are picked up from their residential areas, dropped at school and vice versa,” Mr Ranawaka said.

He said these points were highlighted in the recent discussion with President Rajapaksa.

According to the National Transport Commission there are 778 buses in the Sisu Seriya school bus service. But according to Mr. Ranawaka these buses are a part of the SLTB’s existing fleet of 5000 buses.

“It is important to have a few hundred buses that will be used only to transport primary school children. Each school bus will have a matron or teacher accompanying the students, and safety measures will be taken,” Mr Ranawaka said.

(NF)