The National Transport Commission (NTC) Act, No. 37 of 1991 is to be amended very soon to regulate school children’s transportation services, including high fares, and the new draft Bill is in its final stage, said the Chairman of the NTC, Shashi Welgama.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (14) to inquire whether steps have been taken by the NTC to regulate the school transportation services and their fares, Welgama said that under the current NTC Act, the NTC has no capability to regulate the school transportation services, and that therefore, the Act is currently being amended with new provisions to get the school transportation services under their purview.

Many parties have been raising issues related to the school transportation services, such as the lack of regulation of the fares and security. He noted that there are no specific provisions included in the current Act for school transportation services, adding that it has been a barrier to regulating the school children transportation services, which have been a crucial transportation sector in the country. “Under the current Act, we don’t have the authority to decide on school transportation services specifically, since no specific provisions are included for such services. Therefore, we are currently amending the Act with such provisions with the aim of regulating the school children’s transport services, including their fare. Now, the process is in its final stage,” he stated.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Dr. Ranjith Rubasinghe and the All Ceylon School Children Transport Association General Secretary Lalith Chandrasiri were not available for comment.