No trains in Sri Lanka during the weekend

Sri Lanka Railway will suspend all train travels in the island during the weekend of November 21 and 22 to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Public transport arrangements in Sri Lanka after curfew withdrawn

With the withdrawal of the curfew in the Western Province and other areas, 5000 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses and 48 office trains will be deployed for transport since tomorrow, Sri Lanka transport authorities announced. 

Private buses are also to be deployed for transport under a systematic arrangement, private bus operators say.  

The passengers are requested to wear face masks, wash hands and keep one-meter distance in public transport. 

Buses and trains will not be stopped in isolated areas. The people who live in isolated areas cannot leave the areas even to report for essential services. 

The busfare has also been increased according to the transport policy implemented in each Province. Price hikes will be from 20% to 50% according to the seating regulations. The maximum increase will be 50% for the areas where only one passenger is seated on a double seat.

All expressways will be open for public use without restrictions since 5 a.m. tomorrow.  

Ministry of Public Service, Provincial Councils and Local Government has advised the institutional heads to summon the minimum number of employees to the public offices. The rest of the employees will work from home. 

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Sri Lanka Railway strike ends; bus strike looming ahead

Sri Lanka's railway strike ended today as new threats on a private bus strike came out.

An official of Sri Lanka Railway Graded Employees' Union said that the strike was ended following agreements at a discussion between trade unions and the officials of the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance and the Salaries and Cadre Commission.

The strike was originally planned to be held for 48 hours and accordingly it was to end midnight today.

Train services paralyzed due to strike are still to be normalized. 

Meanwhile All Island Private Bus Owners Association Chairman Gemunu Wijerathna said that the private bus operators will launch a strike since midnight tomorrow in protest of not granting the 10% bus fare hike they demanded.