Model Jaffna SLCTB depot :

Minister to revamp northern transport sector

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Sri Lanka Central Transport Board depot in Jaffna will be converted to a model depot on March 15 by the Transport Ministry following a directive made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The objective of the program will be to expand the transport services in the peninsula, following numerous requests made by people's passenger committees over the past few months.

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma told the Sunday Observer that this has been a long felt need, since the complete disruption of transport services since 1990, considering the development in the agricultural and fishing sectors in the district."In addition, a large number of requests were also made by parents of schoolchildren as they are of the view that State passenger services are safe for travel to children".

Minister Alahapperuma also said that over 90 buses will be needed to fulfil the requirements and arrangements have been made to despatch 25 new buses to the Jaffna depot within the next few days."Our prime aim is to provide additional buses to transport schoolchildren," he said.The Minister also focused attention towards the resumption of the `Yal Devi' train from Colombo to Jaffna and vice versa.