Video: LPBOA wants 6-7% hike or compulsory prepaid cards

15 May 2014 09:02 am

While claiming that it was ready to provide relief to commuters if the use of prepaid cards were made compulsory, the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) said it was expecting a 6 to 7 per cent fare increase at present circumstances.

However, the Association said that it would not demand the increase if the Ministry made the prepaid cards compulsory.

“If the Private Bus Services Ministry agrees to make prepaid cards compulsory, we will not go for a fare hike this year. Both, the bus owners and commuters can get the advantage of using pre paid cards,” LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said.

“Commuters can pay the exact amount for their journey. Owners will not have to pay ransom and the government can save expenditure on minting coins,” he said. The bus fare is to be revised in July this year. (Lahiru Pothmulla & Sanath Desmond)