The Transport Services Management Ministry has decided to allow services of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and buses of the private bus operators within the districts, except high-risk districts, subject to following the social distancing norms. Buses will not operate within the Colombo and Gampaha Districts which are high-risk zones and the Puttalam and Kalutara Districts named as risk zones. However, the services will not be provided within the provinces. Passenger Transport Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the commuters will only be allowed according to the number of seats in the buses. Passengers will have to wear masks during travel and bus operations will not be allowed in the notified high-risk zones. Meanwhile, when contacted by The Morning, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association President Gemunu Wijeratne urged the Ministry to conduct random PCR tests in areas where public transport had begun, to make sure that there were no Covid-19-positive patients freely moving in society. He also stressed that the private bus industry had incurred a loss worth around Rs. 10 billion during the last two months as the entire industry came to a standstill due to the coronavirus. “There was no need to implement rules and regulations to cut down the number of commuters by 50% because in most areas people are not using public transport at present,” he added. By Maheesha Mudugamuwa