Dallas – Are you listening?

My article is based on vignettes of commuting in public transport. The first short story is on a trip down South to see my mother and the travails of a journey from Galle to Ambalangoda. My second story is on my journey to work on Monday, on a bus plying the 101 route. On Tuesday, not only was I short-changed, but I was nearly killed alighting from a bus which did not even offer a ticket in return for my fare. On another journey from Colombo to Ibbagamuwa, I was unfortunately entreated to the choicest Sinhala expletives throughout the journey by those in charge of the bus.

I have written many letters to successive Transport Ministers through the media. Since my childhood and to date, I have used public transport in Sri Lanka. Unlike many others working in the non-governmental sector, I am acutely aware of the hardships the public face in their daily commutes and know not of a single initiative spearheaded by civil society to address the significant challenges facing public transportation in Sri Lanka.

I gave up writing letters when previous Transport Ministers believed their words alone could make a difference. I write to you today because I listened to you on the television and was convinced that you have a progressive attitude towards addressing an issue that next to the rising cost of living, is perhaps the most vexed questions faced by a majority of Sri Lankans today.

Unfortunately, while the JVP waits around for the revolution, the public continues to suffer. I know of only one initiative by the JVP and the Left to address the suffering of commuters in Sri Lanka, way back in 1971.

Now its your turn. Though addressing the combined forces of the political and bus will pose a significant challenge, my next submission will explore what is at stake and how one can go ahead with such an effort.

Read my article in full here (in Sinhala).