The government of Sri Lanka has placed an order for 2,200 Viking buses with Ashok Leyland. This is the one of the largest orders by the Sri Lankan Transport Board (SLTB) as the government aims to modernise its existing fleet and significantly improve the country’s public transport network.

Ashok Leyland will supply these 2,200 buses within the next six months. According to a company spokesperson, this order comprises the Viking range of large buses with a mix of 54- and 42-seater non-AC buses, likely to be deployed for intercity operations. 

Commenting on the new order, Vinod K Dasari, managing director, Ashok Leyland, said, “This is a huge order, especially at a time when the domestic market is just about to bounce back. This order reaffirms our strategy to substantially enhance our sales outside India.”

Last month, the company also announced that it will start exports of the Boss intermediate commercial vehicle (ICV) from June. Since the vehicle’s launch in the domestic market last year, the Boss has sold around 1,000 units till now. Plans are also underway to assembly the Boss in the company’s Dubai facility.

In May 2014, the company posted a 9 percent drop in its monthly sales, dispatching 6,632 units against 7,267 units in May 2013. While M&HCVs saw a 1 percent decline with sales of 4,884 units (May 2013: 4,932), LCV sales saw a 25 percent fall with 1,748 units (May 2013: 2,335).