CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA 
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If on-the-spot emission tests do not stop, we will refrain from operating private buses: LPBOA
If the Transport Ministry failed to stop the Random Emission Tests on the private commuter buses by flying squads, we would bring the country to a standstill without any prior notice one day,” Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne told media yesterday.
“A discussion is scheduled to be held with the Transport Ministry Secretary and the CPC next week. If the discussion is not fruitful, we have to refrain from operating buses around the country,” he said.
Addressing the media Wijeratne said that the auto diesel fuel distributed around the country contains a higher sulfur density, which is 500 ppm (Parts Per Million), and that causes higher emissions.
“Emission tests are being conducted on buses all of a sudden on the road by the flying squads of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) with the assistance of the Police,” he said.
“But such tests are not conducted on the State run SLTB buses,” he charged.
"Several bus owners have complained to me about such incidents being reported from several areas in the country,” he said.
“Wijeratne pointed out that it was compulsory to obtain the Emission Test report before obtaining the Revenue Licenses and the Vehicle Fitness Certificate to obtain a Route Permit.
"Consequently, I have informed the DMT Commissioner-General and the Transport Ministry Secretariat, not to conduct this unfair programme,” he said.
“The sulfur density of the auto diesel imported to the country is 500 ppm. But the diesel sulfur densities in other countries are 0.25 ppm. When buses run on auto diesel with a higher sulfur density, more emission is possible and cannot be controlled. All our buses have Euro 4 engines. Therefore, we must use Super Diesel.”
“Unfortunately, there are no emission tests for Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses. SLTB buses do not get involved with random emission tests. If this practice continued, the LPBOA would stop operating our buses in the country for a day without notice and bring the country to a standstill,” he said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)
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