• To be replaced with new unit by next week

Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Bandula Gunawardena has yesterday (13) issued an order to the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), to immediately halt the operations of the SLTB Flying Squad. The squad is to be disbanded.

The Minister has mandated SLTB Chairman S.M.D.L.K. De Alwis to initiate the setting up of a new Flying Squad within the week.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (13), De Alwis said that this decision was followed when some of the officers attached to flying squads were found guilty for alleged corruption and fraud.

He also said that the Ministry of Transport has understood that the objectives of appointing these officers cannot be achieved in this manner, and therefore, the decision was taken by the Minister to temporarily disband these officers. De Alwis noted that there have been several instances where reports of flying squad officers taking bribes from bus owners and conductors had been received.

When asked as to whether the SLTB has decided to recruit a new flying squad, the Chairman said that no such decision has been made so far, however, a new squad will recruit in order to perform the duties assigned to them.

This move follows the Minister’s recent revelation that the SLTB has been incurring losses ranging from Rs. 2-3 million daily owing to the proliferation of ticket fraud and other illicit activities within provincial long-distance bus services, affecting the Southern and Uva provinces. The cumulative impact of these irregularities has resulted in a staggering loss estimated at approximately Rs. 720 million, as estimated by the Transport Ministry.

Earlier the SLTB said that it experiences a loss between Rs.700-800 million per year due to malpractices by bus conductors, officials, and fraudulent purchasing practices and the SLTB had incurred losses of Rs. 1 billion per year due to rampant corruption, irregularities, and accidents involving its fleet.

Several attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact Transport Ministry Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne on the matter,  proved futile.