On Wednesday, Ashok Leyland, India’s leading heavy commercial vehicle maker, announced that it had secured an order from Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to supply 500 buses. This order was part of the Line of Credit extended by Export Import Bank of India, under the Economic Assistance Scheme of the Indian government.
The SLTB is a state-owned public transportation provider with 110 depots across the island nation, and it operates buses in city routes, hilly and rural routes, and long-distance inter-city routes.
The company has already delivered 75 buses from the order to Sri Lanka.
Ashok Leyland President of International Operations, Amandeep Singh, said, “More than 5,000 Ashok Leyland buses are currently in operation with Sri Lanka Transport Board and these new 32-seater buses are expected to be put into operation in rural routes throughout the island.” He also noted that Ashok Leyland buses and trucks are also manufactured in Sri Lanka, and the brand ‘Lanka Ashok Leyland’ is well-known among Sri Lankans for their daily transportation requirements.
Sri Lankan Transport Board operates in diverse routes and conditions and the new Ashok Leyland buses would be best suited for roads in the rural routes. Indian High Commissioner, Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay handed over the first set of buses to Sri Lanka Minister of Transport and Highways Affairs Bandula Gunawardana at an event in Colombo recently, the company said.
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