Initiatives to streamline the service:

Sisu Sariya to expand

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

Initiatives have been taken by the National Transport Commission, under the guidance of the Transport Ministry to expand Sisu Sariya, the school bus service.

Sisu Sariya, the transport service exclusively for students commenced in 2005. However it failed to provide the expected service. Therefore the Government has taken initiatives to streamline the service.

Sisu Sariya will utilise the services of the private owned bus operators along with the Sri Lanka Transport Board buses. T

he Commission has planned to increase the number of buses up to 850 by the end of this year. By the end of 2010, the total figure will be increased up to 1,000.

The charges of this school bus service will be considerably low.

A student over 12 years will be charged half the normal fare while a student under 12 years will be charged a quarter of the normal bus fare, National Transport Commission Assistant Director of Planning Priyamalee Senaviratne said.

"As a result of the improved security situation, parents tend to send the children to schools in school buses rather than by private vans.

When a large number of school vans are engaged in the school service, it creates terrible traffic jams not only in major towns but also in small towns.

Moreover there are also some issues regarding the safety of students," Senaviratne said. The Commission will reimburse allocations for both private operators and Transport Board buses as school service is a non-profitable service. Under this scheme Rs. 35 is paid for each kilometre up to 15 kilometres. From 15 kilometres to 30 kilometres Rs. 25 is paid for each kilometre.

The Government has allocated Rs. 140 million for the current year as reimbursement for both Government and private school bus operators.