At the present, the SLTB is so overstaffed that a single bus is compelled to support the livelihood of eight workers. As a result, the Transport ministry has come up with a measure to cut down the number of workers through a voluntary system involving a compensation.

The decision was taken during a recent discussion between Transport minister - Nimal Siripala de Silva and Finance minister - Ravi Karunanayake.

Deputy minister of Transport - Ashok Abeysinghe said that the SLTB has a staff of around 36,700 workers as many were recruited unnecessarily as drivers, conductors and mechanics during the last regime.

Rs. 12 billion is needed to pay the pensions of retired SLTB workers with Rs. 400 million needed to pay as gratuities.

Netting profits

According to Mr. Abeysinghe, the daily income of SLTB is limited to Rs. 70 million and the institution is maintained by the Rs. 1000 million granted by the Treasury each month.

He says that profits could be increased by utilising SLTB work areas for bus maintenance, acquiring commercial profits from SLTB-owned land, and issuing fuel to public from SLTB fuel stations.

Meanwhile, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva maintains that the SLTB should stand alone on its own rather than depend on funds from the Treasury.