Sri Lanka’s newly introduced Metro Bus project has wasted public funds, Samagi Jana Balawegaya( SJB) MP Jagath Withana said.
Metro bus suffered from serious irregularities due to the absence of a proper feasibility study, he claimed.
Withana raised concerns over the buses’ fuel efficiency, passenger capacity, fare structure and procurement practices, calling on authorities to address what he described as major shortcomings in the public transport system.
He said a single bus consumed as much as two litres of diesel per kilometre, questioning the decision to import vehicles with high fuel consumption at a time when other countries were increasingly adopting hybrid technologies.
He also criticised the fare structure, saying the buses were designed to carry about 40 passengers but were being operated with around 80 people, many of them standing.
Passengers were charged twice the standard fare regardless of whether they had a seat, he said.
Withana further questioned the lack of reserved seating for Buddhist clergy and other religious representatives, saying members of the clergy were also being forced to travel standing.
The MP alleged widespread corruption in the procurement of spare parts, tyres and tubes, claiming that commissions of between 15 percent and 35 percent were paid during purchasing transactions.
He said tender procedures appeared to favour locally sourced, lower quality tyres over imported alternatives, resulting in more frequent replacements.
Imported tyres could last up to 125,000 kilometres, compared with about 35,000 kilometres for the locally sourced products, he said.
He also referred to alleged financial losses at the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), saying Auditor General’s reports had highlighted daily losses of Rs. 20 million linked to such practices.
(Sachithra Perera)
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