SLTB factories to produce 12,000 tyres annually

By L. S. A. Wedaarachchi

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) will set up two tyre factories in Matale and Ekala while the Ampara tyre factory will be renovated. The SLTB needs 14,000 tyres monthly to operate buses and spends Rs. 65 million annually to purchase tyres.

The SLTB expects to manufacture 10,000 - 12,000 tyres annually under the first stage. Transport Minister, Dullas Alahapperuma said that the SLTB recorded a profit of Rs. 14.1 million last month through its 103 transport depots. The projected annual income of the Board is Rs. 12. billion, he said.

According to the Transport Minister the SLTB targets to repair 300 old buses this year and the engines will be imported from India. The cost to import 300 engines is equal to the expenditure to import one new bus, he said.