News
Boat service once launched to ease traffic problems no more
View(s):By Reka Tharangani Fonseka
The passenger boat service between Wellawatte and Diyatha Uyana in Battaramulla, which began amid much fanfare on March 11, 2020, has now ground to a complete halt.
The boat service was launched as a solution to the traffic congestion in Colombo and the suburbs
including Nugegoda, Rajagiriya, Kotte, Dehiwala, Mt. Lavinia, Sri Jayewardenepura and Kalubowila. Nearly 10 boats were deployed for the service, ferrying passengers between Wellawatte and the administrative centre of Battaramulla. The entire journey took about 20 minutes. Children were charged Rs. 100 for the service while adults were charged Rs. 200.
Sakuni R. Perera, a student of Open University who had used the service from its inception said the
service was a great option rather than having to spend hours in daily traffic. While it would have been better if the boat service also had a stop at the Open University, she said it was still an excellent service in addition to travelling over a scenic route. Even school students were using the service, she said.
A boat operator who did not wish to be named said the boat service attracted a large number of passengers during the COVID pandemic as people did not wish to travel in crowded buses.
However, the service suffered a death blow during the economic crisis as there was no mechanism to supply fuel for the boats, during the fuel crisis. Meanwhile, ticket prices also remained the same despite the sharp rise in fuel prices, discouraging boat operators. All these reasons meant that passengers started drifting away from the service just as it was making a name for itself. Urban Development Minister Prasanna Ranatunga claimed people did not appreciate the importance of the boat service. The low number of passengers meant that it became impossible to continue it, he added. However, he said the boats were available for private use for a small fee. Additionally, a boat named “Diyathma” was being operated along the canals and can be hired for private functions at night. He added that they are willing to reconsider restarting the boat service if enough passengers make a request.
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