The Cabinet of Ministers has approved an increase in the fine on persons who operate buses without a valid passenger service permit from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 200,000.
 
The need to tighten laws against persons who run buses without a valid passenger service license has occurred in order to secure the passengers from dangerous situations and to develop the quality of bus services, co-cabinet spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka said.

Hence, the Cabinet has already approved the increasing of the minimum fine charged by a Magistrate’s Court from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 200,000 for running a bus without the valid passenger service permit. 

He said that the proposal made by Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva to present the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill in parliament drafted for providing provisions for the above purpose by amending the article 40 of the National Transport Commission Act No 37 of 1991, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Meanwhile the Cabinet has also approved the introduction of Global Positioning System (GPS) for efficient and secure operation of trains.

The proposal made by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to procure and install a Train Operating and Information System based on GPS system that enables to monitor the definite location and speed of trains from the Ministry of Defence and implement it connected with the current Train Time Keeping System with the objective of benefiting the Sri Lanka Railway and passengers was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, he said.