Nine out of 35 buses imported for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) years ago were restored and put back into operation today at the Katubedda Super Luxury Tourist Depot, following repairs costing Rs. 375 lakh. Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Prasanna Gunasena said the remaining buses are undergoing renovation, with spare parts already being procured. He expressed confidence that they would be back in service within the next three months. “The buses brought for CHOGM had been withdrawn from service. Today, nine of them have been renovated and redeployed. There is a high demand for long-distance services to destinations such as Galle, Matara, and Kandy. These buses will initially be used for 5,000 km of short-distance services before being assigned to long-distance routes,” the Minister said. He added that efforts are underway to restore all remaining CHOGM buses as soon as possible, noting the importance of reliable public transport for the people. The Minister further said that, in line with the President’s vision, the government is planning to expand rural transport by deploying buses under state assistance to serve non-revenue generating rural roads.
