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Private buses will charge extra: LPBOA

1 June 2016 08:48 pm - 23     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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An extra percentage would be charged from private bus passengers taking into consideration the cost of fuel wasted due to delays caused by traffic congestion, from July 1, said Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne today.

He said such a decision would be taken if the government did not take action to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road.

“The recent tax increment was mainly on luxury vehicles, but no tax was imposed on small vehicles. The government also encourages the people in the country to buy vehicles with lower engine capacity,” Mr. Wijerathne said.

“The number of private vehicles on the roads is at its peak. Due to that, road traffic is increasing. Private buses have to spend more time on the road and 50 percent of the fuel is wasted. This is a huge loss for the bus owners,” he said.

“We have already informed the National Transport Commission (NTC), Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayaka requesting a discussion regarding the decision. We have also informed President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,” he said.

“As private bus operators we are responsible for 52 percent of the public transportation in the country. But the government is not giving any consideration to the private bus sector. The government is not taking any steps to develop the private bus industry,” he said.

“It has been over six months since we suggested a separate bus lane on the main roads but the government does not seem to be considering it,” he said.

“If the government does not find a way to ease the traffic congestion, the association will definitely conduct an island wide bus strike soon,” he said. (Chaturanga Pradeep)


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  Comments - 23

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  • Ram Thursday, 02 June 2016 06:45 AM

    This time private bus owners demand is reasonble, but let them to start strike and vanish gradually. Increse ctb and train services mor effeciently.

    Kaido Thursday, 02 June 2016 09:23 PM

    Just improve the conditions of your terrible buses and people will automatically come. You cant have it both ways. via DM Android App

    Ali Thursday, 02 June 2016 07:54 PM

    We have to charge private buses for causing traffic and wasting our time

    Citizen Thursday, 02 June 2016 06:14 PM

    Is he thinking through his brain and talking through his mouth or??? The public needs to waste their time on the road and also pay more for that??? I think he is now qualified to contest in the next parliament election :-)

    CITIZEN Thursday, 02 June 2016 05:56 PM

    Mr. Wijejaratne, what about including the cost of the clothes of the people at home? For the unreasonable demands you fellows make people should strip you all of the clothes you wear and made to run on the streets!

    Sim Thursday, 02 June 2016 05:10 PM

    First give us a better service. No overcrowding, no stopping at halts for 10 minutes and no speeding. Passengers are worst than coconut in buses and Gemunu is not worried about it.

    CTB Thursday, 02 June 2016 05:08 PM

    me mona pissekda? munta neh charge gahanna one

    mack Thursday, 02 June 2016 04:09 PM

    what a joke he must think commuters are fools. its time yaha govt think of Re vamping the SLTB via DM Android App

    joe Thursday, 02 June 2016 03:53 PM

    why do they need a seperate lane -they already have this all over the road

    SL Thursday, 02 June 2016 08:19 AM

    who is going to pay us for the time waste due to the slow moving buses. All the buses are blocking the roads1. while they are at bus stops.2.Moving at low speed even though the road (blocking the vehicals comming from behind )3.while stopped at road side

    BV Thursday, 02 June 2016 08:03 AM

    WE TOTALY AGREE.BUT ALSO DOUBLE THE FINES IMPOSED ON PRIVATE BUSSES THAT CAUSE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. via DM Android App

    Henry Thursday, 02 June 2016 07:04 AM

    Majority of the bus owners have connection / ownership with Police or Politicians and they always get the commuters at a ransom. They used public property [bus stands] and think the roads also belongs to them. Why can't the government [SLTB] add more buses and also improve the train services to see how these 'BUS PRIVATE THUGS' will exist!

    Madlin Wednesday, 01 June 2016 09:20 PM

    The biggest culprit for the traffic are the private buses. Who is going to fine them via DM Android App

    The counsellor Thursday, 02 June 2016 06:39 AM

    Someone admit this guy into the insane asylum. These busses are the main reason for the traffic....and then comes tree wheelers..

    Cobra Thursday, 02 June 2016 06:26 AM

    So have they given up putting vettu to get ahead of other traffic like they usually do?

    roadrunner Thursday, 02 June 2016 05:22 AM

    kottanawa charge??

    Wele Vidane Thursday, 02 June 2016 05:19 AM

    John the second.

    harin Thursday, 02 June 2016 05:11 AM

    Bus lanes in major roads? first have correct your discipline. bus lanes requires going one behind each other in the bus lane. yay neda? who si asking you to say these things? is it that prof in your pay role kumarage. bright idea just like his park and ride concept.

    Ram Thursday, 02 June 2016 03:54 AM

    Private buses are another mafia and this man is the head who received pleasantries from MR during MR's regime

    Bus_driver Thursday, 02 June 2016 01:23 AM

    "Private buses has to spend more time on the road" so says mr. Gamunu. Have you seen buses anyplace other than on the road ???

    smiley Thursday, 02 June 2016 12:19 AM

    LOL, they want a separate lane for buses? ya right as if they do follow the law in Colombo. Worst than the tuks, when it comes to lane discipline and speeds. Could say, they assume themselves to be tuk drivers.

    UN Wednesday, 01 June 2016 11:09 PM

    The government has increased the prices of the vehicles in order to ease the traffic on the main roads.In turn LPBOA is demanding to increase the bus fairs due to rising traffic congestions. If the government has faith on what they do, why do they even care to listen to these stupid arguements. As I believe this is double taxation on people who have the need to travel? I wonder what sort of a country we do live in!!!

    Shihan Wednesday, 01 June 2016 10:01 PM

    munta pissu.. via DM iOS App


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