New Year Travel Rush Sees 55,000 Depart from Makumbura MMC, Authorities Urge Early Travel

Sri Lankans are actively traveling to their hometowns for the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays. The Makumbura Multimodal Centre (MMC) has been a central hub for this festive exodus, with approximately 55,000 passengers having departed since April 8. April 11 was recorded as the peak travel day, witnessing large crowds and long queues for buses at the MMC and other main terminals. Authorities confirmed the deployment of sufficient buses to manage the demand and ensure smooth travel. However, on April 12, a noticeable reduction in passenger numbers was observed at the Makumbura MMC, leading officials to urge commuters not to delay their travel plans. A special transport service plan involving additional buses has been implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Highways from April 10 to 21 to facilitate efficient public movement during this period.