The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council has implemented a scheme to enable the poor school going children to travel in private buses at a concessionary rate. The children would have to pay only a small amount as bus fare to travel to school.

Chief Minister Maheepala Herath had discussed the matter with the private bus owners and arrived at this decision.

Nearly 250 children attending Balangoda-Panana school, a very backward school in the Rakwana electorate, were the 1st to get this concession. They will be issued with special season tickets.

The Chief Minister praised private bus owners for agreeing to carry the school children at a concessionary rate. This is a community service. Many students are forced to leave school due to poverty. The example shown by these bus owners could be an example to others to follow," he said.

Commenting on the services of the Lanka Transport Board, he said, "This should open the eyes of the drivers and conductors of the Lanka Transport Board, who accelerate when they see school children standing at bus halts in uniform."

He said that to make the scheme meaningful, the private bus drivers and conductors should be educated to abide by it.

He said hoped to extend the concession to other parts of the province.

PC Chairman Athula Kumara Rahubadda, Secretary to the Chief Ministry H. P. Kularatne, Provincial Director of Education R. Abeysinghe, Chairman of the Sabaragamuwa Peoples Transport Authority Sanjaya Senaratne also participated.