Nineteen women were appointed as conductors to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) on Friday, marking a first for the state-run public transport operator and a milestone in efforts to expand women’s participation in the sector.
The appointment letters were issued at a ceremony held at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre on the outskirts of Colombo, attended by government officials and senior SLTB representatives.
Deputy Mass Media Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathne said the appointments reflected a broader push toward gender equality and safer public spaces, particularly in public transport. She said women entering traditionally male-dominated professions was the result of decades of advocacy for women’s rights.
“By facing challenges with resilience, women can help build a better country, a healthier society and a more women-friendly environment,” Ariyarathne said.
She credited Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake for prioritising gender equality since assuming office, noting that the recruitment of women conductors was part of efforts to address harassment and improve accountability in public transport.
Colombo District lawmaker Samanmali Gunasinghe described the day as a “new chapter” for the SLTB, saying the inclusion of women conductors helped break long-standing social barriers. She said the new recruits also carry a responsibility to help prevent harassment of women passengers.
SLTB Chairman Sajeewa Kanagarthna and other senior officials attended the event, along with Makumbura Project Director Nalaka Dissanayake.
The Sri Lanka Transport Board operates the country’s largest bus network. Officials said the 19 women were appointed to the permanent service, becoming the first officially appointed female conductors in the institution’s history. (Newswire)