Sri Lanka's second metro bus depot commenced operations in Kadawatha today, marking progress in the government's urban transit modernization plan. Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced plans to expand the metro fleet to 172 buses and procure 600 new air-conditioned buses for the state transport authority.
The Kadawatha metro bus depot officially opened today under the management of Lanka Metro Transit (Private) Company, according to statements from the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development. The facility represents the second operational depot established under the first phase of the Metro Bus Project, which aims to construct four depots across the Western Province centered in Talangama, Kadawatha, Ekala, and Ratmalana.
Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake, who declared the depot open, announced that a Cabinet paper has been submitted to procure an additional 50 metro buses on the instructions of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The government expects these buses to arrive in Sri Lanka by the end of 2026 or early 2027, bringing the metro fleet to a total of 172 buses. Over recent months, 104 new metro buses have already been added to the fleet.
Rathnayake emphasized that the metro bus initiative complements rather than replaces existing public transport infrastructure. The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) will continue as the primary transport provider nationwide, he stated, noting that metro buses are designed specifically for urban areas and cannot serve mountainous or remote regions. The minister announced that the President has approved procurement of 600 air-conditioned buses for the SLTB, with the board planning to purchase an additional 200 buses using its own funds. The Budget also provides for 50 smaller buses.
The depot system is expected to streamline metro bus operations, with additional running yards planned in Ratmalana and central workstations to be established in Talangama and Homagama.