Project ආරක්ෂා Bus Repair Project: Phase 05

 

^{Project ආරක්ෂා}

^{Bus Repair Project: Phase 05}

^{Leo Club of University of Colombo proudly celebrates the successful completion of Phase five of our six phase community service project, Project Araksha. This important project aims to support the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), strengthening the country's public transportation infrastructure and ensuring passenger safety by raising funds and providing volunteer assistance to fix broken buses.}

^{Why We Chose This Project}

For thousands of people around Sri Lanka, public transit is essential to their everyday life, and buses are among the most popular forms of transportation. However, there are significant dangers to passenger safety from frequent mechanical breakdowns, particularly those involving braking systems.

^{Our club dedicated to take action, not just talk about the problem. Through the Project Araksha, we focused on real and practical solutions. Instead of only creating awareness, we helped with bus inspections, maintenance, and necessary repairs. Our goal was to improve the safety and reliability of buses that are in daily use.}

^{To officially carry out this project, we worked together with the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and got their approval and support. The project has six phases, and the fifth phase was conducted at the Rathnapura SLTB Depot. Through this phase, we continued our mission to protect lives by providing responsible and meaningful service.}

^{Fundraising and Sponsorship}

^{To successfully carry out the fifth phase of Araksha, our committee members actively engaged in fundraising activities. We spent two days selling tickets at Viharamahadevi Park and another day at the Horana tuition class. Other than that, we spent one day selling pens which are printed like ‘University of Colombo’ at Viharamahadevi Park.  Along with these activities, some generous individuals contributed donations to support our project.}

^{Reviving Phase Five at Rathnapura Depot}

Following coordination by the project chairperson with the Rathnapura Bus Depot, the fifth phase of Project Araksha was scheduled for 27th February 2026. On the scheduled day, all project committee members arrived in the morning, met the depot engineer and began preparations following his guidance. For this phase, we selected the WP ND – 1665 long distance bus, operating on the Rathnapura to Deniyaya route. The bus’s hand brake system and also the brake liners of the rear wheels was repaired to ensure better safety and proper functioning of the bus. Committee members actively assisted the technical team throughout the process, ensuring smooth progress.

^{With the strong teamwork and good coordination between our project committee and the depot’s technical staff, we were able to finish all the work in just one day. Because of this quick completion, the bus was ready t return to service, offering safe and reliable transport for both daily passengers and long-distance passengers.}

^{Repairs and Upgrades Completed}

The repair process included important improvements to make sure the bus was safe and reliable:

^{·   Repairing the hand brake system to ensure proper control and parking safety.}

^{·      Repairing the main brake system to improve overall braking performance.}

^{·         Replacing and repairing the brake liners of the rear wheels to ensure effective and safe braking.}

^{After completing these repairs and improvements, the bus is now in good working condition and ready to provide safe and comfortable transport for passengers travelling on the Rathnapura to Deniyaya route.}

^{A Step Toward a Bigger Mission}

The successful completion of the fifth phase of Project Araksha is a meaningful step toward our main goal of improving public transport safety in Sri Lanka. We are truly thankful for the commitment, support, and cooperation of the staff at the Rathnapura SLTB Depot. Their professionalism and teamwork played a big role in making this phase a success.

^{Project Araksha continues to stay dedicated to its goals and will move forward with the final phase as planned. With ongoing commitment and teamwork, the project aims to continue promoting safety, reliability, and the wellbeing of the public until the overall project is successfully completed.}

 

^{-By Leo Dahami Perera}