With the aim of safeguarding the mobility rights of persons with disabilities, who have so far received little attention within Sri Lanka’s public transport system, a dedicated priority bus service for them is scheduled to commence next month under the guidance of the Clean Sri Lanka programme and the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.
The programme is being implemented in line with the government’s vision of building “a country that guarantees equal opportunities and protects human dignity for all.”
Implemented with a financial allocation of Rs. 430.7 million, the project is not merely a transport service but also a distinctive addition to the broader series of public welfare initiatives already being carried out under the Clean Sri Lanka programme. Its primary objective is to remove physical barriers within the public transport system and create the necessary environment for persons with disabilities to participate in society independently and safely.
Under the first phase of the project, 10 modern, low-floor, air-conditioned buses, designed to allow easy access for wheelchair users, were brought to the Hambantota Port on the 10th of this month. These buses are scheduled to be transported to Colombo this Saturday and officially handed over to the Metro Company thereafter.
Each bus, which has 33 seats, can accommodate up to 80 passengers at a time, and they are equipped with specialised technical features to ensure the safety of wheelchair users.
As a pilot project, the service will operate with the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre as its hub. Accordingly, buses will run every 40 minutes during morning and evening hours on the routes Makumbura–Pettah and Makumbura–Kadawatha. The routes have been planned to directly cover major healthcare centres, particularly the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital and the National Hospital of Colombo.
For the operation of this service, 28 selected drivers and conductors from the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) will be provided with special training. This training, conducted by the Ministry of Social Services, will include bus technology and passenger safety, professional ethics and passenger care, as well as sign language for communicating with passengers with disabilities.
Based on the success of this pilot project, the government plans to import a further 100 buses in August to support the transport needs of both persons with disabilities and the general public. In parallel, the Clean Sri Lanka programme also plans to renovate or newly construct bus stops in line with accessibility standards to ensure they are disability-friendly.
