The government expects public transportation services to return to near-normal levels by 31st of December Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced. He said that although achieving full restoration may be difficult, authorities are working to resume bus services on almost all routes before the year’s end to ease daily life for the public.
During a visit to the SLTB depot in Chilaw, the minister added that train operations are expected to resume up to Chilaw by the end of the month. He explained that transport across the Puttalam District had been severely disrupted by the complete destruction of the Iranawila bridge. “Work is already underway, and with support from the Indian government, we aim to install a Bailey bridge at the site by December 20,” he said.
Rathnayake also noted that the Chilaw depot was the only SLTB facility to be submerged during the recent floods, causing damage to several buses.
