Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Madhura Senevirathna says more than 200 new buses are to be added to the “Sisu Sariya” school bus service this year.

Speaking at a media briefing held today (12), together with officials of the National Transport Commission, the Deputy Minister said the move is part of a broader program to strengthen and expand the school bus service in 2026. 

He emphasized that the government has allocated nearly one billion Rupees to ensure the safe transport of schoolchildren, enabling them to attend school without physical or mental strain.

Officials of the National Transport Commission, including Chairman Engineer P.A. Chandrapala and Planning Director Aloka Karunaratne, highlighted that several new measures are already underway to further organize the service. 

These include removing legal barriers to standardize private school transport, introducing regulations on vehicle standards, driver qualifications, and assistant staff.

The Commission also invited private bus owners and small‑scale safe vehicle operators to join the program, informing that those interested can express their willingness to the nearest transport board or SLTB office.

They further said that if there are students facing transport difficulties, principals can inform the relevant institutions so that facilities can be provided. (Newswire)

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Pakistan cricketer Salman Mirza has sent a legal notice to broadcaster ARY Communications and journalist Shahid Hashmi over what he says were false allegations aired about him during the team’s stay in Sri Lanka.

In the notice dated March 12, Mirza’s lawyers said ARY News broadcast a report on March 5 alleging that the player had misbehaved with a female staff member at the team hotel in Kandy. The report also claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board had fined Mirza over the alleged incident.

Mirza has denied the allegations, with his legal team describing the report as false, baseless and defamatory.

The notice states that the Pakistan Cricket Board also rejected the claims through its official X account, calling the report “agenda-driven fake news” targeting the character of its players.

Mirza’s lawyers have demanded that ARY News and Hashmi immediately retract the report from all platforms and issue a clear and unconditional apology.

The notice also seeks damages of 100 million Pakistani rupees for alleged harm caused to Mirza’s reputation and goodwill.

The legal notice says court action will be pursued if the demands are not met within seven days. (Newswire)

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