Bus transport is the primary mode of transport that fulfills  the daily transport requirements of the country, and this service is provided by the Sri Lanka Transport Board and a large number of independent private bus operators.

Many problems have arisen, such as excessive competitiveness, poor adherence to the prescribed timetable, a large number of operators on the roads, unsafe behavior of bus operators,
inconvenience encountered by the passengers, traffic congestion, service imbalance, and inefficient use of resources due to the long-standing operational system in providing public passenger transport services.

As a successful solution to these problems, many countries in the world have introduced a ‘Bus Sector Clustering Program,’ and the bus service is operated under joint management in the same transport corridor or geographical area.

It has been acknowledged that the introduction of bus sector clustering, a methodology that involves the clustering of unified and coordinated bus services on interconnected routes under a single management, could be used to achieve the provision of an effective passenger transport service and the minimization of most operational and social issues, as opposed to the operation of a single operating unit.

Accordingly, taking into account the matters furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the implementation of the
pilot program relevant to the bus sector clustering program on the bus corridor covering routes 170, 177, and 190 initially, with the participation of related stakeholders, and to expand the project further based on the results of the pilot project.

The incidents of losing sight or further weakening eye sight of patients subject to eye surgeries at Nuwara Eliya Base Hospital due to usage of the eye liquid Prednicylone Asitate within the period from 03.03.2023 to 16.05.2023 has been reported.

Based on the result of an investigation held in the regard, compensation has been given to 17 patients who lost their eye sight after  eye surgeries at the Nuwara Eliya Base Hospital. Apart from that the committee appointed to investigate and report on the patients experienced eye impairments due to usage of liquid Prednicylone Asitate after eye surgeries at the
hospitals apart from Nuwara Eliya Base Hospital recommended to compensate four (04) more patients despaired.

Accordingly, considering the particulars furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media the Cabinet of Ministers decided to grant their consent to compensate those four (04) patients as well with rupees one million each.

… demands resignation of Justice Minister, Secretary

Former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (7) alleged that Prisons intelligence personnel were responsible for causing Monday’s riot in the Negombo Remand Prison.

The Convenor of the opposition grouping, based at former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office, asked who had sent the intelligence personel from the Prison headquarters in Colombo to Negombo after authorities had managed to bring the previous day’s incidents under control.

Two inmates were killed and several prison staff wounded on Sunday. Prof. Peiris asked the government to reveal who had ordered the police to open fire on Monday. He emphasised the responsibility on the part of the government to identify who had done so, police or prison staff or both and whether there was a need to shoot.

Commenting on Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara declaration that he accepted responsibility for the prison riots that claimed the lives of 19 inmates and seven prison officers, Prof. Peiris demanded that the minister resign forthwith. The Justice Minister couldn’t side-step the issue by merely accepting responsibility, Prof. Peiris said.

He emphasised that even if Nanayakkara resigned that wouldn’t solve the problem.

Prof. Peiris alleged that the government was not concerned about issues in prisons. It was trying to bring in a constitutional amendment to extend the retirement ages of the superior court judges.

Prof. Peiris also found fault with the government for its failure to appoint a successor for Thushara Upuldeniya, Commissioner General of Prisons, suspended on 9 June, 2025, over alleged release of prisoners taking advantage of general amnesty.

The former Minister said that Justice Ministry Secretary Ayesha Jinasena had refused to implement the Human Rights Commission recommendation to reinstate Upuldeniya. Prof. Peiris said that Jinasena, too, should be held responsible for the incident as her inaction had contributed to the overall deterioration of the setup in prisons. (SF)