• We have recorded around 20 incidents, including one or two major ones: Metro CEO
• They should operate under a joint timetable with us: LPBOA President
• We are not competing with anyone: Metro bus driver

Sri Lanka’s latest attempt to modernise public transport has encountered growing tensions, with a series of collisions and allegations of deliberate obstruction involving Metro and private buses raising concerns over passenger safety and competition on the roads.

While private bus operators blame overlapping services and the absence of a joint timetable for the situation, Metro management maintains that the new service is intended to improve public transport rather than compete with existing operators.

With Police investigating several incidents, the dispute raises a broader question: is Sri Lanka’s long-standing bus culture standing in the way of public transport reform?

Damage and repairs

Lanka Metro Transit Ltd. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) B.M. Piyathilake said that approximately 20 incidents had been reported since the service began.

“We have recorded about 20 incidents in total, including about one or two major ones,” he said.

According to Piyathilake, some incidents had resulted in court proceedings, while others were being addressed through insurance claims and repairs. He said that most parties responsible for the damage had agreed to bear the costs, subject to investigations.

“For many of these incidents, the parties responsible for the damage have agreed to bear the cost, depending on how the investigations go. Moreover, these buses are fully insured, so we also have the ability to claim 100% of the costs from the insurance,” he said.

He added that repairs were being carried out promptly under the supplier agreement, which included a one-year warranty and provisions for workshop maintenance and spare parts for up to 10 years.

However, beyond the damage and investigations lies a broader dispute over competition and route coordination.

Timetable dispute

Meanwhile, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne called for Metro buses to operate under a joint timetable with private operators, warning that overlapping services could increase competition and accidents.

Wijeratne argued that the Metro service, which he identified as operating under the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), should coordinate its schedules with private buses serving the same routes.

“They should operate under a joint timetable with us,” he said.

Explaining the risks, he said: “When routes overlap, competition arises between operators. They end up bumping into each other, running people over, and causing accidents.”

Wijeratne also referred to a Supreme Court order which, according to him, provides guidance on timetable coordination. He said that the association intended to submit relevant court documents concerning the incidents, arguing that Metro buses were operating without a proper timetable.

He added that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had requested a report on the matter.

Metro’s response

Rejecting calls for an immediate joint timetable, Piyathilake maintained that Metro buses operated under a separate permit category known as ‘Urban Luxury’.

“We operate under a completely different category called ‘Urban Luxury,’ which has a separate route permit system. We have created a separate timetable for it. We have not yet reached the stage of moving to what is being described as a joint timetable,” he said.

He cautioned that integrating Metro buses into existing arrangements without a suitable mechanism could create complications.

However, Piyathilake said that the company intended to include private operators eventually and was conducting a pilot project to gather operational data over a period of six months to one year before developing an appropriate model.

Private sector integration

Under the proposed arrangement, private operators could introduce buses meeting Metro’s specifications and operate within a coordinated system rather than incorporating their existing vehicles.

Piyathilake said that the model would regulate the number of buses assigned to individual routes, reducing competition while allowing operators to earn reasonable profits.

However, he acknowledged that insufficient data on revenue, passenger capacity, and operating costs had prevented the company from finalising the mechanism. Private sector participation could begin in approximately two years, depending on the pilot project’s findings.

“We cannot define the mechanism precisely at this stage because we still do not have a clear picture of revenues or complete information on passenger capacities. We launched this pilot project specifically to gather these details,” he said.

Piyathilake maintained that the service was intended to encourage motorists to switch to public transport. He highlighted the ‘Park and Ride’ concept, claiming that private vehicle movements at the Makumbura parking facility had increased by approximately 50% since April.

He also said that Metro buses followed scheduled timetables, with the LMT-GO application providing estimated arrival times.

Acknowledging that the introduction of the service could create short-term competition, he argued that a coordinated system would benefit both operators and commuters.

“In the short term, their concerns about competition are valid. However, we need to think as a country and focus on the long term. In the long term, there will be significant benefits for the country and the people,” he said.

He warned that disruptions to the pilot project could undermine improvements in passenger comfort, safety, and reliability.

Athurugiriya land dispute

Meanwhile, Piyathilake denied that Lanka Metro Transit was involved in a dispute over land reportedly intended for a bus stand near the Millennium City housing complex in Athurugiriya, following a Police complaint alleging its unauthorised use.

He claimed that residents had proposed converting a common area into a bus stand, while parties responsible for the original development had lodged the complaint.

“As Metro, we have not selected a bus stand there. We had only selected the Athurugiriya route,” he said.

He maintained that the company was not using the disputed land for parking, with buses stopping at a designated halt for approximately 10 minutes. “Metro has no connection to this matter whatsoever,” he said.

Driver disputes claims

A Metro bus driver rejected allegations that the service operated outside its designated timetable, claiming that tensions with some private operators stemmed from a decline in their passenger numbers.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning on condition of anonymity, he said that Metro drivers prioritised passenger safety over revenue.

“We are not competing with anyone. Some private operators have seen their passenger numbers decline and that is why they are reacting aggressively towards us,” he said.

However, he stressed that not all private operators were responsible for the tensions. “Not every private bus operator has issues like that. There are good people among them too. It is only a small group that is being problematic,” he said.

Commuter experience

Metro passenger Randika Lakmal praised the service for its comfort, punctuality, and spacious interiors. “No matter how crowded the bus gets, you do not really feel as though you are being crushed,” he said.

He also welcomed the quieter environment, onboard announcements, and scheduled departures, although he acknowledged that traffic could occasionally cause delays.

Lakmal said that designated halts sometimes required passengers to walk farther, but added that they helped improve efficiency by eliminating unnecessary stops.

“Instead of stopping unnecessarily and wasting time waiting for passengers as ordinary buses do, Metro buses arrive, quickly board passengers, and depart,” he said.

While commuters have highlighted the benefits of the service, the continuing disputes underscore the challenges facing efforts to reform Sri Lanka’s public transport sector.

Police investigations

Against this backdrop, the Police has submitted reports to the relevant courts regarding five incidents involving Metro buses, with proceedings still at an early stage.

Director of Traffic Administration and Road Safety Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amal Edirimanne said that reports had been submitted in connection with the incidents.

“The reports have been sent to the relevant courts and the proceedings are still at the initial stage,” he said.

The Police launched investigations earlier this month amid suspicions that some collisions may have been deliberate. It warned that those responsible for deliberately damaging buses could face action under the Offences Against Public Property Act, criminal law, and motor traffic regulations.

The Police also announced plans to provide special security for Metro buses operating in Colombo and its suburbs.

However, attempts by The Sunday Morning to contact the Ministry of Transport for its assessment of the incidents and the Government’s position were unsuccessful by the time of publication.