It is suspicious that responsible persons have been involved with the decision to increase the diesel price by Rs. 15 on two occasions without conducting any analyses, Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijerathne said.

Addressing the media, he said diesel price was increased by Rs. 10 in September and by Rs. 5 on October 31.

"If the diesel price is reduced, the transport costs will drop. Accordingly, there is no legal provision to go for a bus fare revision according to the annual bus fare revision formula.

If any bus fare revision takes place considering the current fuel prices, that should be increased by two percent. Another Rs. 10 or Rs. 15 will increase to go for a four percent bus fare revision," he said.

However, with the increase in electricity tariffs, the LPBOA is to make a request from the Transport Ministry secretary to go for a bus fare revision in the next few weeks, the chairman said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)