Minister Bimal Ratnayake Addresses Incident in Parliament
A shocking incident in Hatton, where a bus conductor forcibly removed school students from a public bus, has led to swift action from the authorities. Addressing the matter in Parliament, Chief Government Whip and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Ratnayake, confirmed that the conductor involved has been suspended pending an investigation.
The incident occurred when students from a Tamil school in the Kinigtathena-Kaduwela area boarded a bus belonging to the Hatton Depot. The conductor reportedly asked them to get off the bus because they were traveling with season tickets. A heated argument ensued between the students and the conductor, and a video of the confrontation quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread criticism.
MP Jeevan Thondaman brought the issue to the attention of the Minister in Parliament. In response, Minister Ratnayake acknowledged the gravity of the situation and assured that necessary measures were being taken. He emphasized that all students and passengers traveling with season tickets must be allowed on public buses without any restrictions.
Following the viral outrage, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) took immediate action, deciding to remove the conductor from service. Until the investigation is completed, he has been suspended from all duties. Minister Ratnayake further confirmed that disciplinary action has already been initiated against the individual.
This incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by students relying on public transport, prompting authorities to reinforce policies ensuring their right to safe and uninterrupted travel.
A police constable and another individual have been arrested for allegedly assisting suspended Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon in evading arrest, the Police Media Division confirmed.
Sarith N. Silva, the creator of the popular YouTube channel Wild Cook Book, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Sri Lankan to surpass 10 million subscribers on YouTube.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, paid a visit to the headquarters of the United National Party (UNP), Sri Kotha, today for a crucial discussion with the party’s leadership.
