If DEVELOPMENT buses enter the stand on Bastion Mawatha daily. From the Bastian Mawatha bus stand, buses leave for places like Malugama, Kalutara, Pelawatte, Dcniyaya.Gallc, Matara, Kataragama. Kandy, Matalc, Wclimada and TRANSPORT SERVICE OF Nuwara Eliya. About 238 buses go daily to Matara, SRI LANKA - AN EVALUATION Galle, Kataragama and Hambantota from Co­ lombo and aboul321 buses come to Colombo from these areas. Ravi Prasad Herath Statistics from the Kalutara District show r I T*> he transport service of Sri Lanka, like There are three private bus societies in the that it is not only in the towns that the private •*- nature, is something that no one can Colombo district, and two private bus socie­ sector is capable of operating a passenger control at will. However, it is also a fact that ties in the Gampaha district. transport service profitably. is not its only characteristic. These societies often act like rivals. A There were 1041 buses which had obtained If that is so, it may be better put if we say society wise breakdown of the buses is given license for passenger transport in the Kalutara that Sri Lanka's passengers have never below: District, as at 18.10.1991. benefitted so far and are unlikely to benefit in Some of the routes in which the private the future from transport services. Colombo District: sector, through the district transport society, Passenger transport was earlier a 'service', Society No. 1 764 buses runs its buses (including the routes neglected but now it is a business, a source of self- Society No. 2 1552 buses by the state transport service as uneconomi­ employment. Society No. 3 567 buses cal) are as given in Fig. 1. Total 2883 buses The work stoppage of the private bus In this connection it is worth taking note of services in June this year revealed the stale of Gampaha District: the routes on which only one bus operates. the buses under Government control. The Society No. 1 805 buses They arc given in Fig. 2. (Kalutara District) daily income jumped up from Rs 1.1 million Society No. 2 1139 buses to Rs 3.3 million but it may not have led to any Total 1944 buses improvement in the transport service in gen­ In order to curtail frequent clashes be­ eral. Kalutara District: tween private bus drivers and conductors, the Director, Transport of the Western Provincial The main reason was that the state sector The Kalutara District Society 930 buses Council has often spelled out their duties and docs not have adequate facilities required for responsibilities (though it cannot be said that passenger transport today. According to reports about 733 buses en­ these are being adhered to, much). Some of It cannot now be said that passenger ter the stand at People's Park and about 388 these duties and responsibilities arc: transport is not a profitable venture. An inquiry into the private sector's intervention in the Fig. 1 transport services will show what a money Route Number Number of Buses Starting Point Destination spinner it is. 400 218 Kalutara Colombo (In this inquiry, the private bus service in 100 119 Panadura Pcltah the Western Province is being used as a case 400/2 88 Negombo Pettah study). 458 13 Matugama Horana 420 25 Kalutara Horana If passenger transport is unprofitable, 285 23 Horana Matugama would the number of registered buses 5148 in 430 60 Matugama Colombo 1990 to5757by 15.05.1991 ?Thus in one year 450 67 Panadura Ratnapura the number of buses had increased by 645. 482 14 Matugama Man ana (As many as 400 of them had obtained route 435 10 Pelawatte Matugama licences on the basis of SMI bank loans). 120 25 Horana Colombo Within the Western Provincial Council 463 21 Panadura Morontuduwa area limits there arc three transport districts. 441 23 Matugama Alulgama They are: 423 25 Kalutara Ncboda 125 12 Ingiriya Colombo 1. Colombo district 449 09 Horana Ingiriya 2. Gampaha district 462 15 Panadura Alulgama 3. Kalutara district Economic Review Sept. 1992 15 DEVELOPMENT 2 Fig. ' While il is apparent that the aim of pro­ Routes on which only one bus operates viding apublic service has now become almost Route No. No. of Buses Starling Point Destination non-existent for the slate transport sectors, the 456 01 Panadura Diggala private sector has been able to operate a bus 831 01 Panadura Nugegoda every 02 minutes on somerouies. Because the 282 01 Horana Padukka fares arc now equal in both ihc sectors, the 662 01 Panadura Atulugama private sector can hope for more business and 413 01 Matugama Malewala therefore a belter income. 162/1 01 Bandaragama Piliyandala Routes where there is a bus every 02 minutes: 966 01 Matugama Kaluaggala Narahcnpiia - Fort 400/3 01 Bandaragama Ingiriya Routes where there is a bus every 05 minutes: 426 01 Kaluiara Koholama Colombo - Ncgombo 24/1 01 Aviuawa Colombo Fort - Battaramulla Maitakkuliya - Mount Lavinia Fig. 3 Matiakkuliya - Fori Routes on which a maximum of three (3) buses operate Kotahcna - Rawalawatle Route No. No. of Buses Starting point Destination Kotahena - Maharagama Kolahcna - Nugegoda 142/2 03 Panadura Moratuwa Heltiyawaltc - Karagampitiya 419 03 Kaluiara Kclhcna Colombo - Koitawa 365 03 Alutgama Kotakanatta Colombo - Kadawata 388/2 03 Alutgama Ambalangoda Colombo - Maharagama 400/4 02 Kalutara Alutgama Colombo - Homagama 280 03 Horana Maharagama Routes where there is a bus every 15 minutes: 388 02 Alutgama Galle Colombo - Katunayake Airport 158/1 02 Parattc Moratuwa Colombo - Kelaniya 101 02 Panadura Fori. Colombo - Welivcriya 465 03 Panadura Gonapola Colombo - Pugoda 142/1 03 Panadura Moraiuwa Colombo - Godagama Narahenpila - Wellawalic Fort - Malabe 1. You must remember that the success of under titles like 'How lo run the vehicle to Colombo - Kuliyapitiya the operation of buses will depend on your ensure its long life', 'Careless driving', 'How Colombo - Minuwangoda co-operation, the manner in which you do you must drive your vehicle in a manner that Colombo - Kandy your work and the manner in which you will ensure your safety and that of the passen­ Fort - Talawatugoda follow the rules and regulations issued to gers and the pedestrians'. Fort - Angoda you. You must do everything in your Fort - Aturugiriya power to prevent discontent among the It is a mailer for shame that the private Colombo - Ratnapura people involved in the venture. This will sector has shown surprisingly good economic Colombo - Kegallc be possible only if you act with an un­ results on the routes where the S.L.T.B. has Colombo - Kurunegala derstanding of your responsibilities to the been an utter failure inspite of adequate legal institution and to the passengers. support and ihc Government's backing. It must also be mentioned thai there arc certain areas which are not served either by 2. You must always remember that you are Although it is iruc thai failure was due to the State transport service or by the private doing not only a job but also a public lack of proper management, another factor transport service. service. that seems to have contributed is that an The condition of the people living in areas 3. Please note that punctuality, cleanliness, atmosphere free from political pressure and corruption conducive to proper management which have an acute shortage of bus services pride in your appearance and your uni­ is made worse by the fact that there are no form will help you in your work. (A uni­ had not been created. The result was that the SLTB became insolvent. railway services functioning in those areas form had been proposed for the drivers either. and conductors of private buses). The Slate transport service is trying hard , Lack of a large enough population, lack of 4. You must be courteous and helpful to the lo survive. According lo a letter addressed lo suitable roads and buses are among the major passengers, die officers and the fellow- Chairman / Secretary, Sri Lanka Transport obstacles to the solving of problems in the employees. Board, the Stale transport sector sought an transport service. alternative source of income by displaying 5. You must always be quick, careful and advertisements on buses, because expendi­ Due to all these factors, there is only one efficient in doing your work. ture of maintaining the buses and the buildings bus aday from Colombo to some areas.Some The instructions go further and arc listed is very high. of such areas are: Batlicaloa, Kalmunai, (Com. on 18 ; 16 Economic Review SepL 1992 Transport Services of Sri Lanka (Conl. from-16 ) Nawalapitiya, Tcldeniya, Inginimiliyc, Mcdawachchiya, Eppawela, Kahata- gasdigiliya, Kckirawa, Bulnewa, Bakamuna, Wilcchchiya, Rajanganc, Galncwa, and Rismehera. Practically there arc about 1,500 passen­ gers a day boarding a private bus.This number of passengers and the income received help to make the business profitable and, if there is good management, there will be enough op­ portunities to double and treble that profit. 18 Economic Review Sept. 1992 .