Bus fare revision a violation of fundamental rights

By Dilip Jayasekara

Colombo, July 16 (Daily Mirror) - Coordinator of Hambantota District Human Rights First Aid Centre Tharanga L Patambendi said the bus fare revision implanted with recently amounted to violation of passengers’ consumer and economic fundamental rights.

He pointed out the National Transport Commission has allowed the conductors to misappropriate the passengers hard earned rupees.

“For example, the bus fares of Rs.34.00, Rs.44, and Rs. 54, and the maximum fare for long distance destinations Rs. 5571.00 resulted in illegal exploitation of passengers by the conductors who refuse to give the balance money under the false pretext of want of change. The passengers are denied of his balance of Rs. 6.00, Rs. 5.00 and Rs.09.00 in these instances. This is a serious injustice that allows the conductors to earn money through unfair means.”

“In case of the bus fare of Rs.44.00 the conductor cash in Rs.50.00 refusing to return the balance. In case of the bus fare of Rs.56.00 the passenger is compelled to pay Rs.60.00. If the passenger demanded the balance, he would be subject to hard rebuke.” He said.

He pointed out that the bas fares could be brought to round figures and to work out a mechanism to credit the excess to a public welfare fund maintained by the government instead of allowing the conductors to misappropriate the balance money.