Sri Lanka to launch public buses for "females only"

COLOMBO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation on Tuesday said the government would soon launch public buses for "females only" in order to curb the rising complaints of sexual harassment on public transport.

The ministry in a statement said the buses will be launched within the coming two weeks in capital Colombo and will be extended to other parts of the country later this year. At least 25 to 30 buses would be put on the roads at first by the state-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board.

The aim of this program is to reduce the abusive environment and the sexual harassment faced by women in public transport system.

The ministry last week launched special "all female compartments" in passenger trains travelling throughout the island in order to ensure the safety of female passengers.

The "all women compartments" would also help reduce overcrowding in trains.

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 and opt to suffer in silence.