Sri Lanka to launch public buses exclusively for females

Sri Lankan government on Tuesday said that it would soon launch public buses exclusively for females in order to curb the rising complaints of sexual harassment on public transport.

Transport ministry said the said the program would initially be launched in capital Colombo and would be extended to other parts of the island later this year.

It said the objective of this program is to reduce the abusive environment and the sexual abuse women face in the public transport system.

The government had last week, launched special all female compartments in passenger trains travelling throughout the island as well in order to ensure the safety of female passengers.

Sri Lanka has recently faced a rise in women facing sexual harassment on public transportation, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

In a recent report by the UNFPA, at least 90 percent of women have faced harassment on trains and buses and incidents of sexual harassment is on the rise because victims refuse to speak up.