The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal by the Minister of Transport to implement a new methodology for issuing inter-provincial passenger transport permits, Newswire reported on Wednesday.
The decision builds on earlier Cabinet approval granted on 11 December 2023 to introduce reforms to the permit issuance process. The National Transport Commission (NTC) has now formulated a revised methodology, aligning the framework with the criteria set out in the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Act, No. 8 of 2025.
The government said the new system is designed to safeguard the interests of existing bus operators while also opening opportunities for new investors to enter the passenger transport sector. The approach aims to balance industry stability with expansion, and to ensure the public’s right to access reliable and quality transport services, the Cabinet paper added.
The reform lands amid a broader push on transport-sector governance. Earlier this month, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association raised concerns about SLTB fleet procurement practices, and Cabinet approved refurbished bus deployment for the CHOGM logistics pipeline later this year.
Source: Newswire
