An analytical review of 40 years of bus transport since nationalization

The bus industry in Sri Lanka has undergone many changes throughout its existence. Though all such changes were introduced in order to improve bus services, most attempts have been either short lived or counter-productive. The problems facing the present bus industry in Sri Lanka are well known and do not require further discussion. This paper investigates its comparative performances over the last 40 years. During this period, the bus industry changed from being a nationalized monopoly to a loosely regulated industry within a mixed enterprise environment. This paper traces the sociopolitical influences that have formed the very character of bus services since nationalization. It then examines the relative performances of regulated and deregulated bus services in such an environment. Such discussions include the productivity of input resources; fare levels and affordability; levels of financial support provided by the State; safety and load factors representing quality of transport. The discussions are based on analysis made from historical databases. The general findings of this research provide insight to many unresolved problems still facing the bus industry in Sri Lanka. They are not dissimilar to problems faced by other countries, particularly in the third world