PoliticsEconomyGeneralHOTWednesday, April 8, 2026

Pettah Central Bus Stand Faces Vandalism Post-Reopening; Suspect Arrested

TLDR

Pettah Bus Stand reopened April 8 after LKR 424M upgrade.
President Dissanayake attended; SLAF provided labor/tech support.
Serves 75,000 passengers; Minister cited LKR 20M daily SLTB fraud.
Vandalism led to 33-year-old arrest April 11; Fort Station next.

The Pettah Central Bus Stand in Colombo officially recommenced operations on April 8, following a comprehensive renovation project. The upgrade, initiated in late September of last year, was undertaken after 60 years of service and carried out under the 'Clean Sri Lanka' national program with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The project involved an estimated expenditure of 425 million rupees. High-ranking officials, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister of Transport Bimal Ratnayake, participated in the opening ceremonies. Key enhancements include extensive building repairs, the installation of a CCTV system for 24-hour monitoring, a new information center, a modern sanitary complex, and a dedicated external queuing area for buses. The renovated facility now features the ground floor as the main bus terminal, with the second floor designated for driver and conductor rest facilities.

7 Updates

Update #8\u00b7 Apr 12 · 5:01 AM

Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Prasanna Gunaseena, warned on April 10 that strict legal action would be taken against individuals damaging the newly renovated Pettah Central Bus Stand. During an inspection, he noted that instances of vandalism, such as faucets being removed from women's restrooms on both April 8 and April 9, could be the work of organized parties. Following a complaint filed by the bus stand's welfare section, a 33-year-old suspect from Kelaniya was arrested on April 11 in connection with the property damage and was found with stolen items. The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is slated to provide a valuation report for the damage, and the suspect is to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

Update #7\u00b7 Apr 8 · 6:31 PM

During the reopening ceremony, Minister of Transport and Highways Bimal Rathnayake stated that Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) conductors embezzle LKR 20 million daily.

Update #6\u00b7 Apr 8 · 11:31 AM

The renovation was a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, the Colombo Municipal Council, and several other institutions, with the Sri Lanka Air Force providing technical as well as labor contributions. The project was completed ahead of schedule following a massive 24-hour operation. The modernized terminal is now equipped to serve approximately 75,000 passengers and nearly 2,000 buses daily. Additionally, the first floor now offers air-conditioned accommodation for drivers and conductors.

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