Sri Lanka, April 9 — The National Transport Commission (NTC) has unveiled a collaborative transportation initiative alongside the Sri Lanka Railways Department and the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). This coordinated effort aims to ease mobility throughout the period spanning April 9 to 21 for the celebration of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Through this program, intercity bus services will run across five primary routes: Kandy, Puttalam, High-Level/Low-Level, Dambulla, and Galle. Besides the standard bus timetables, an extra 500 bus trips have been organized to meet the higher passenger volume.
Additionally, 350 specialized bus routes will operate through the expressway to major locations such as Galle, Matara, Badulla, Tangalle, and Kataragama. These services will focus their activities at points like Makumbura, Kadawatha, Kaduwela, and Colombo Bastion Mawatha.
The Sri Lanka Railways has additionally put into operation special trains running from Fort Railway Station to Badulla, Kandy, and Gelle, enhancing the regular daily services available.
The NTC predicts that approximately 800,000 travelers will utilize bus stations in Colombo and nearby regions to journey back to their home towns throughout this holiday season. In preparation, key bus hubs have been outfitted with upgraded hygiene amenities, reinforced safety measures, on-site medical assistance, and staff designated for specific responsibilities.
A round-the-clock operations center and customer service division has been set up to oversee services and help travelers during the festive period. Travelers can contact the NTC through the emergency line 1955 or via WhatsApp at 071-2595555 for additional support. Those requiring more details from SLTB should call 1958, and railway-related queries can be addressed by dialing 1971.
Furthermore, round-the-clock mobile inspectors have been stationed along major transportation routes to stop fare gouging and guarantee a seamless journey for every traveler.
