MEA S Jaishankar hands over Ashok Leyland buses to Sri Lanka. (Photo: Twitter/@DrJaishankar)

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday handed over Ashoka Leyland buses to Sri Lanka's Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardane. India's multinational automotive manufacturer, Ashok Leyland, will supply 500 buses to Sri Lankan Transport Board.

Jaishankar in a tweet, said, "Happy to symbolically handover buses to Lanka Ashok Leyland to Minister of Transport, Bandula Gunawardane. This is part of 500 such buses that are being supplied to Sri Lanka Transport Board with Indian support."

The SLTB is a state-owned single largest bus transport provider. It has 110 depots throughout Sri Lanka. Notably, the Indian company delivered 75 buses to Sri Lanka recently. The order was part of the Line of Credit by the Export-Import Bank of India to the neighbouring country. It is under the Economic Assistance Scheme of the Indian government.

As per Amandeep Singh, president - international operations of Ashok Leyland, over 5,000 Ashok Leyland buses are currently in operation in Sri Lanka. "More than 5,000 Ashok Leyland buses are currently in operation with Sri Lankan Transport Board and these new 32 seater buses are expected to be put into operation in rural routes throughout the island," Singh said as quoted by PTI.

These are 32-seater buses. Notably, "Lanka Ashok Leyland" is a well-known brand in the neighbouring country. Ashok Leyland is owned by the Hinduja Group. It is one of the largest manufacturers of commercial vehicles in India.

Courtesy: Times Now, MSN, Firstpost