Sri Lanka, July 21 -- The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the procurement of 600 deluxe air-conditioned buses for the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to upgrade intercity and long-distance passenger transport services.

The decision revises an earlier plan under the government's 2026 investment programme, which had allocated Rs. 14.4 billion for the purchase of 600 standard buses with seating capacities of 49 to 54 passengers.

The revision follows the introduction of the Road Safety Plan 2025-2026, which established new standards for passenger transport vehicles, including safety and operational requirements for buses used on long-distance routes.

Under the updated guidelines, minimum specifications were introduced for three categor...