Army places 44 buses on standby for stranded passengers

The Army on the instructions of the Commander of the Army made 44 Army buses available at the request of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) for passage of stranded civilians in Colombo and elsewhere after a section of railway employees launched a lightning strike over some trade union issues.

Those buses, manned by Army personnel enabled passengers and school students to travel free of charge to their destinations in Galle, Kandy, Chilaw, Kurunegala, Nittambuwa, Rambukkana, Mirigama, Veyangoda, Giriulla, Gampaha, Ganemulla and Polgahawela areas. Earlier on Thursday, 28 Army buses were placed on standby to provide adequate transport services for stranded passengers. 

Meanwhile SLTB has introduced a hotline contact number of 011 7 505 555 for the passengers affected due to the ongoing railway strike to inform their transportation requirements or inconveniences. The SLTB also said that railway season ticket holders are allowed to travel to their destinations by SLTB buses free of charge.