•  Merit and qualifications to be prioritised along with proper assignment  

In a move to address long-standing concerns over politically motivated appointments, the Transport Ministry has announced that it will conduct interviews to fill positions within the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) based on merit and qualifications.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (19), a ministry official said that nearly all positions at the SLTB are currently occupied on an acting basis. 

They explained that the ongoing interview process is intended to grant permanent appointments to existing staff members in accordance with their qualifications, while also ensuring that suitably qualified individuals are placed in the appropriate roles. "Other than the Chairperson, everyone else is serving in acting roles. Permanent appointments have not been made for years. The Chair is appointed as a political appointee, and all other positions are on an acting basis. It is against this backdrop that the interviews are being held," they stated.

They also assured that the process would not result in any job losses. Instead, existing staff will be reassigned based on their qualifications, while vacancies will be filled through a formal tender process.

The official highlighted a key administrative issue that prompted the review. "On official reports, there is no shortage of bus drivers and conductors in the country at present. But, practically, there is a severe shortage. When we went to the Prime Minister’s Office to request new appointments, we realised that we don’t have vacancies because some individuals who should be serving as drivers and conductors are currently occupying other management positions, despite lacking the necessary educational qualifications," they noted adding, "This issue will be sorted out by the interviewing process."

The decision follows a statement made last week by Deputy Transport Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, who announced plans to assess the qualifications of the SLTB's current workforce, stating that certain appointments had been made on political grounds. The interviews commenced on Monday (16), and Dr. Gunasena has indicated that the process is expected to be completed within two months.

The Ministry has further assured that the ongoing interviews will not disrupt the operational efficiency of the SLTB.