Legal action warned against those damaging Metro buses

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake has warned that private bus drivers or owners responsible for damaging Metro buses could face serious legal action under laws relating to damage to public property.

Speaking to journalists after an event in Colombo, Rathnayake said more than 100 Metro buses were currently in operation and that only a small number of private buses had been involved in incidents affecting the service.

He stressed that the issue should not be viewed as a problem involving the private bus sector as a whole, noting that the vast majority of private buses had not caused any disruption.

“Those who damage Metro buses are damaging public property. The drivers or owners involved could face serious legal action because this is property belonging to the people of Sri Lanka,” he said.

Rathnayake urged private bus operators to adapt to the Metro service rather than obstruct it.

He also said the government planned to open the Metro bus service to the private sector within a year.

“We will, in any case, open the Metro service to the private sector within a year,” he said.

The minister said private operators should therefore work in line with the new system rather than risk legal action by damaging public property.