May 22, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is to increase the fleet of buses of the state-owned transport institution and provide better facilities to the commuters.

The Transport Ministry has announced its decision to increase the fleet of buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to 6,000 after acquiring 2,000 new buses.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama told the media yesterday (21) that the SLTB would lease the new buses at low interest rates and add them to the existing fleet in stages without too much pressure on the Treasury.

The Minister promised to do his best to provide better transport facilities to the commuters.

"I know that the SLTB and the railway are not functioning as expected but we will do our best to change this situation," Welgama said, adding that there was a tender system for the granting of route permits to bus operators, which is now on hold until the National Transport Commission was appointed.

Meanwhile, Deputy Transport Minister Rohana Dissanayake also addressed the press briefing and said it would be best for the industry if all stakeholders discussed matters amicably with him and the Minister instead of being confrontational.