Railways, SLTB and Motor Traffic Department suffer staggering losses owing to lockdown

The Department of Railways, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and the Department of Motor Traffic have all suffered staggering income losses during the month-long lockdown caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, officials revealed. 

Sri Lanka Railways, which is only now starting to operate some train journeys in the districts where curfew was lifted, has suffered total income losses amounting to Rs 650 million over 28 days. The Railways suffered a daily income loss of over Rs 15 million during the lockdown. 

The SLTB meanwhile, has suffered daily income losses totalling Rs 78 million, resulting in the state transport body losing Rs. 2.184 billion through the past 28 days. 

The Department of Motor Traffic is suffering daily losses amounting to Rs 30 million. Officials there said the process of renewing some 50, 000 drivers' licenses had also ground to a halt. They also conceded that they will also be hard-pressed in paying the salaries of employees of the Motor Traffic Department next month if the crisis were to continue.