SriLanka, Sept. 13 -- The Cabinet has approved the purchase of 600 new air-conditioned deluxe buses for the Sri Lanka Transport Board's (SLTB) intercity and long-distance passenger services.

The buses will be purchased using the Rs. 14,400 million already allocated under the Government's 2026 investment programme for the purchase of 600 new buses, without any additional allocation.

The original plan was to purchase Standard-type buses with a seating capacity of between 49 and 54 passengers. However, following the introduction of new safety specifications for passenger transport buses under the 2025-2026 Road Safety Plan, the Deluxe model was identified as more suitable for intercity and long-distance services.

The Cabinet has, therefor...