COLOMBO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's state-run public transport system marked a key development on Friday as the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) formally inducted its first group of female bus conductors, a gradual shift toward greater gender inclusion in the sector.
Twenty newly recruited women received their letters of appointment at a ceremony held at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Center, a key transport hub on the outskirts of Colombo. The event marked the first time women have been appointed to conductor roles within the SLTB's long-established bus operations.
Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyarathne, Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe and SLTB Chairman Sajeewa Kanakarathna were among those present at the ceremony, which underscored official support for expanding employment opportunities for women in public services traditionally dominated by men.
The SLTB also unveiled a new uniform designed specifically for female conductors, signalling institutional readiness to accommodate a more diverse workforce. ■