CTB records Rs 430 million daily income

The CTB is the best enterprise in Sri Lanka which earns a daily income of Rs. 430 million, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama told a meeting at the National Transport Commission Auditorium, Colombo Saturday.

The meeting was held to mark the distribution of prizes to winners of the two day bus and motor coach Exhibition and Competition held at Shalika grounds, Narahenpita in July this year.

Welgama said when he assumed the transport portfolio four months ago, the CTB had an operational fleet of 4,300 to 4,500 buses.

“The operational fleet has now been increased to 5,683 buses. My intention is to achieve a target of 6,000 buses,” the Minister said. He said an enterprise which earned a daily income of Rs. 430 million should be able to achieve a spate of development where it could stand on its own feet without depending on outside or government funds.

Welgama said eventhough 60 percent of the bus fleet in operation in the country were privately owned, the CTB was the popular service which mustered much public demand.

“Out of a total of 103 CTB depots in the country, 10 were in a poor state where they cannot be financially resurrected.”

However the Minister hoped to speak to the management of these depots and improve their financial and operational status to enable them to pay salaries to their employees on the due date.

He said the Bus and motor coach exhibition was held in an effort to offer an inducement to improve the bus services in the country.

The SLTB won the prize for the best state sector production stall while Douglas and Sons won the prize for the most attractive stall. DIMO won the prize for the most attractive arrangement of buses.

Senior Deputy Director Transport Commission Gunatilleke Bandara and Road Development Authority Deputy Director (Planning) were also awarded prizes as representatives of the panel of Judges.

SLTB Vice Chairman L. A. Wimalaratne and National Transport Commission Chairman Shashie Welgama were also present.