Sri Lanka, April 22 -- In Sri Lanka today, getting onto a public bus is no longer a simple or routine part of life. For many, it has quietly become something they do with hesitation. There is always that small, unspoken fear in the back of the mind. Will I reach home safely?
For decades, we have spoken about reforming our public transport system. Every government has, at some point, acknowledged the problems and promised change. Yet, despite these repeated assurances, the condition of our bus service remains largely unchanged. It continues to be unsafe, unreliable and, for many, deeply worrying.
Public buses are the backbone of daily travel in this country. They carry millions of Sri Lankans every day. Schoolchildren rely on them to get t...