National Transport Commission (NTC) Chairman Shashi Welgama yesterday said he was resigning from the NTC to focus on other interests in the midst of charges by private bus operators who claimed that Welgama had chosen to resign as he was unfit for the position.

Welgama told the Daily Mirror he was leaving the NTC to focus on other ventures and had requested permission from Private Transport Services Minister C.B. Ratnayake to permit him to resign on four separate occasions in the past. “I have enjoyed working with the Minister as it has been a pleasure but I have now chosen to resign,” Welgama said.

Commenting on claims by private bus operators who said he was not fit for the position of NTC chief, Welgama said that it was not the reason for his decision to resign. “It is a lot of pressure to juggle the responsibilities but there have been other problems,” he said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)