Video: No bus fare hike this time

26 June 2014 10:43 am - 7 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Private bus owners affirmed today that there would be no bus fare hike as it would further lead to the collapse of the industry.

Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne said that they had decided not to increase bus fares on July 1 as they do annually.

“If we do then it would further collapse the industry and the passengers will also move out of the industry seeking other alternatives,” he said.

“It is sad to say the biggest reason for the collapse of the industry is due to the large number of new super luxury and semi luxury services carried out by wealthy, influential individuals with political backing,” he noted.

“There is a big mafia out there. We have even written to Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take action on such frauds and streamline the process of issuing bus permits,” he said.

Wijeratne also said the National Transport Commission (NTC) could not increase bus fares as they do not have any power to make such arbitrary decisions without consulting the bus operators.

He said though a decision was taken not to increase bus fares, there had been a 15 percent increase in lubricant, prices of oil filters, log prices and even income taxes had also been increased over the past year.

He said they had requested the transport authorities to issue them with 50 permits to ply on the expressways promising to provide Rs.2.4 million from each bus per year.

“This would give the government Rs.120 million a year and the Treasury will not need to allocate money for ‘Gemi Seriya’ and ‘Sisu Seriya’ bus programmes,” he said.

He said he was pessimistic about the response of the transport authorities to the proposal seeking 50 new expressway permits. (Supun Dias and Sanath Desmond)

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Comments - 7

as Thursday, 26 June 2014 11:19 AM

if you increase fare "ABA saranai"

Niki Thursday, 26 June 2014 11:22 AM

Why would they need a price hike, when the conductors already charge Rs.1 extra for the Rs.9 ticket?!
#BiggestScam

Phantom Friday, 27 June 2014 12:58 AM

But that's to the conductor's pocket and not the Association. Anyway Gemunu has finally realized that more hikes is committing haka kiri but somehow there is this fishy smell in his uttering!

Kiris Baba Amaray Friday, 27 June 2014 04:42 AM

Not only in July, you will cannot raise the bus fares anymore as the Government has better plans to develop the public transport. Sorry Gamunu..... your dirty games will never work again.

Public Friday, 27 June 2014 09:29 AM

Let the government mint a nine rupee coin.

Anticleon Friday, 27 June 2014 12:48 PM

So Gemunu wants people to use his takaran bus service instead of better buses? They could have retained passengers with them if the drivers and conductors at least knew that people don't like harassment in various forms such as deliberate delay, foul speech, overloading, overcharging etc.

Tom Friday, 27 June 2014 08:11 PM

Now police could give fine tickets to PRIVATE BUS DRIVERS. .Who gose wrong. .. Earlier no way... if so they go for stricks... Nw GAMUNU powerless. ..Very Very good .... via DM Android App

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Video: No bus fare hike this time

Comments - 7

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