Feb 27, Colombo: Trade unions affiliated to Sri Lanka's state transport sector say the President and the government have failed to uplift the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).

Secretary of the All Ceylon Transport Services Union, Sepala Liyanage has in a letter to the President said that the provincial transport ministers were issuing passenger transport permits without a proper procedure purely based on personal financial gains, which in turn has ruined the state transport sector.

He has observed that the issuing of these licenses should be given only by the Transport Ministry.

"Despite promises made by you and your government to strengthen the SLTB, the necessary actions have not been taken," Liyanage has noted in the letter.

The union leader has pointed out that the SLTB bus fleet, workers, garages and depots need to be increased.

According to Liyanage, the actions of some ministers hampered the growth of the SLTB and the President needs to intervene to resolve the issue.