State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry, Dilum Amunugama said the program to grant a concessionary package for private bus operators for tyres, batteries, lubricants and insurance is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.
The Ministry has already commenced this program to provide assistance to private bus owners who have been affected due to the recent countrywide lockdown.
At present, there are around 17,000 private buses in operation and all these buses are entitled to the relief package, the State Minister said yesterday, October 2.
He said, “The concessionary packages were presented to private bus owners in Galle, Matara and the Hambantota districts in Galle on Thursday, September 30. The concessionary packages for private bus owners in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts were given on Friday, October 1. We hope to cover all districts within the next two weeks”.
He also said this concessionary package would help private bus owners to get their vehicles back on the roads. “We thank all the companies involved in the motor industry which are assisting us to implement this project as the Government is not funding this project.”
Vouchers are distributed among private bus owners for tyres, batteries, spare parts and lubricants which have been presented to us by the companies under this concessionary package. This package also includes insurance concessions.
One package roughly contains vouchers worth about Rs. 200,000, he said.
State Minister Amunugama said for example, CEAT tyre company has set aside almost Rs. 50 million for this project. “They will give us tyres worth Rs. 50 million. Similarly, companies such as Browns, DIMO, Lanka Ashok Leyland, Chevron Lubricants and Sri Lanka Insurance have funded us heavily by giving concession vouchers,” he also said.
