Beware of travelling ticketless...

by Ananda Kannangara

The Sri Lanka Central Transport Board (SLCTB) will strengthen its flying squad unit from January to crackdown ticketless travellers and errant bus conductors who do not issue tickets.

The SLCTB mobile flying squad during the past few months had cracked down over 150 conductors for not issuing tickets for passengers. Transport Minister A. H. M. Fowzie said he received numerous complaints regarding financial irregularities taken place at buses where certain conductors not issuing tickets for short distance travelling.

"The SLCTB is incurred millions of losses every month due to this matter," he said. Among them, a record 58 such cases were reported from SLCTB depots in the Gampaha area.

In addition, the flying squad was also able to earn Rs. 192,728 as on-the-spot fines.