Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said today that CCTV systems will soon be mandatory for all school transport vans, as the government moves to strengthen safety and discipline across the public transport sector.
Speaking in Parliament, the Minister said incidents of harassment involving women and children in transport settings have increased, and the government is taking steps to curb such behaviour. He also revealed that a new set of guidelines for school and office transport services will be introduced from January.
“The only real solution is to empower passengers,” he said. “If anyone attempts to harass a woman or a child, we need people who will not look away but will take action. Whether male or female, we need that courage.”
Rathnayake noted that many people hesitate to intervene when wrongdoing occurs due to “toxic conditions” within parts of the bus industry.
