Lakdiva Engineering Company introduces 14 remodelled buses to SLTB

The Ekala Lakdiva Engineering company introduced 14 newly designed buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) yesterday (Mar 22).

The buses were manufactured within the SLTB's standards specification framework although several new facilities were included, the Transport Ministry said.

Issuing a press release, the Ministry further noted that the cost for manufacturing these buses were 30 percent lesser than the cost incurred to produce a normal bus which is unequipped with additional facilities.

"The Lakdiva Engineering company is on the verge of making a considerable profit. Our vision is to broaden the trade opportunities for this company further to manufacturing buses," Minister of Transport Arjuna Ranatunga said at the launch of these buses.

He noted that the salaries received by the employees of this company were extremely low and measures would be taken to increase them as well.

The Lakdiva Engineering company had introduced seven buses of a similar model in February 07. Accordingly, with 14 new buses being introduced yesterday, the total number of buses produced by the Company since last year stands at 24.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport said that the net profit earned by manufacturing these buses since last year was Rs 4.8 million.