All Ceylon Federation of Lanka Private Bus Association (ACFLPBOA) said its members would launch a countrywide bus strike on May 19 midnight.

Association Secretary Anjana Priyanjith said the transport authorities had failed to increase the bus fares as requested by private bus owners in the wake of the recent fuel hike.

Meanwhile, Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratna said they were not aware of such a strike. “We will take a decision regarding the bus fare hike on Thursday after a rally at the Borella Campbell Park. The Government is running out of fuel stocks due to the non-arrival of fuel,” he said. (Chaturanga Pradeep)