FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) reported a revenue of 1 billion rupees over a span of six days during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities, a period that typically sees a surge in travel as individuals return to their hometowns, according to a statement from Chairman Sajeewa Nandana Kanagaratne.
On April 11, the SLTB achieved a remarkable milestone by generating 213 million rupees in a single day, marking the highest daily income recorded in its history.
To accommodate the influx of travelers, special bus services were introduced from April 10 to April 13 for those leaving Colombo and other urban areas. Following the holiday, additional services began on April 15 for passengers making their way back to Colombo and other cities, as confirmed by the National Transport Commission.
During this period, over 400,000 passengers utilized private bus services to return home from Colombo, particularly because portions of the Sri Lanka Railways network sustained significant damage due to Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025. As a result, critical routes such as the upcountry line remain unrepaired even five months later. (Colombo/April 16/2026)
