The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is losing nearly Rs. 20 million each day due to fraudulent practices by bus conductors, Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake revealed at a public event.

Calling the losses a leakage of public funds, Rathnayake said not just buses, but the entire SLTB administration, including its human resources framework, has been destroyed.

Despite the crisis, the Minister firmly rejected speculation of privatization. “We will not sell SLTB. We will develop it,” he declared, promising sweeping reforms to restore accountability and efficiency.

Rathnayake warned that officials and employees unwilling to adapt to new standards would be removed. He urged the drafting of new regulations if necessary and pledged decisive action against corruption.

“Those who don’t change will be removed,” he warned. (Newswire)

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The conductor of the bus involved in the accident in Ella on Thursday claims that the driver informed him of a brake malfunction prior to the accident.

Speaking to the media, the conductor, who survived the deadly accident, said that while driving downhill, the driver had informed him that the brakes were failing.

He further said that they had managed to come downhill and that the bus had toppled into a precipice while attempting to overtake a tipper truck. 

“While coming downhill, he said the brakes were down. We somehow managed to come downhill. Then, when trying to overtake a tipper truck, the accident occurred. We were not driving at high speed,” he said. 

The conductor made the revelation while speaking to the media from the hospital where he is receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the accident. 

As of now, 15 people are reported dead and 18 were injured in the accident that occurred last night. (Newswire)

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A conductor of a school transport bus has been honoured for risking his life to prevent a bus accident and save the lives of a group of students in Kurunegala.

It is reported that the driver of the bus had suffered from a sudden heart attack while transporting several female school students. 

The conductor had then taken control of the vehicle, preventing a bus accident and saving the lives of the students onboard the bus.

“The driver had suddenly suffered a heart attack. At the time, the conductor had taken control of the wheel and swerved the vehicle to the left, crashing into a utility pole. If he had not taken control, the bus would have crashed into a shop on the right and fallen into a precipice,” the principal of the school said, speaking to the media. 

He further said that the school students themselves had proposed honouring the conductor for his heroic act. (Newswire)

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Disciplinary action has been initiated against a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus conductor who had forcibly made a group of school students get off his bus in Nuwara Eliya.

Video footage of the incident, which had been widely circulated on social media, shows the conductor behaving rashly and forcing the students, who had season tickets, to get off the bus. 

Addressing the incident, Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake informed Parliament today that the said conductor has been removed from service with immediate effect. 

He further said that the conductor would not be allowed to rejoin the service until the completion of the investigation into the incident. 

The minister added that disciplinary action has already been initiated against the bus conductor. 

Minister Bimal Rathnayake pointed out that it was recently decided that complaints can be filed against SLTB bus drivers and conductors who operate services while bypassing school children and citizens with a bus season ticket.

During a recent meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said any citizen could report such incidents by calling 1958. 

At the time, the minister assured that stringent measures would be taken against such misconduct. (Newswire)

CTB bus conductor suspended! A conductor who was seen in a viral video asking students with bus season tickets to get down has been suspended, confirms Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake. pic.twitter.com/218YkIeRF5

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) March 7, 2025

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