Pavithra Wanniarachchi: Latest News

COLOMBO (News 1st); State Minister Dilum Amunugama said he took oaths on Friday (4) as the country’s Minister of Transport.He was State Minister of State Ministry of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments, and Motor Car Industry.It was reported on Thursday (3) night that Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi who was the Transport Minister would be taking oaths as the Minister of Power, replacing Gamini Lokuge, who was appointed as Minister of Energy, replacing Udaya Gammanpila.At the same time, Arundika Fernando was sworn in again as the State Minister of Coconut, Kithul, and Palmyrah Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing and Export Diversification.He resigned from the position after his son was arrested and remanded in connection with the assault of a group of Ragama Medical Faculty students.He was sworn in again, after he was found NOT guilty by a committee that investigated the altercations that took place a month ago between two groups of students at the dormitory premises of the Medical Faculty of the Ragama Medical Faculty a month ago.

COLOMBO (News 1st); 200 buses that were taken out of service were repaired and re-added to the passenger transportation under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat premises on Tuesday (22).The project was implemented based on a concept of State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry Dilum Amunugama and under the guidance of Transport Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.The importation of buses was also suspended along with the restriction on the importation of vehicles.Accordingly, steps were taken to repair the dilapidated buses as a solution to the shortage of buses and in order to save foreign exchange.Under the first phase of the project, 273 buses were repaired and added to the bus fleet in December 2020.Under the second phase, 200 buses that were completely out of service at 107 depots across the country were repaired at a cost of Rs. 136 million.The project is being carried out by Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) depots and Lakdiva Engineering Company with the full support of the Sri Lanka Public Transport Employees Union.The President inspected the standard of the buses, engaged in conversation with the SLTB employees.