Construction of Sri Lanka’s first Metro Bus depot began on Monday in Kadawatha, marking a milestone in the government’s urban transport modernisation drive.
The Rs. 102 million depot, located near the Lanka Transport Board facility on the Kadawatha–Ganemulla main road, is being funded by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and is scheduled for completion by July 30, 2026.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena, who presided over the groundbreaking, said the Sri Lanka Transport Board was being reorganised to elevate its services. “Recruitment and promotions are being carried out transparently, free from political influence. The SLTB, which was heading towards collapse, is being rebuilt under the current government, under new leadership and proper administration, minimizing corruption and irregularities,” he said.
The Metro Bus service currently operates as a pilot with 10 buses and is set to expand in August with 122 buses deployed across six main routes. Supporting infrastructure including new bus stops, integrated payment systems and depot facilities is being developed in parallel to underpin the expansion.
Alongside the Kadawatha site, additional Metro depots are planned in Ratmalana and Thalawathugoda, with four facilities to be established across the Western Province.
The depot follows the launch by Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake of the country’s first online seat reservation pilot for long-distance bus travel earlier the same day, and complements the ComBank–NCG Express cashless ticketing rollout on the private intercity fleet.
Source: Newswire.
