Video: Either subsidy or fare hike: Minister

11 July 2013 01:07 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 4 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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The Private Transport Services Minister C.B. Ratnayake today said the ministry couldn’t provide subsidies and a bus fare hike at the same time for private buses.

“It has to be only a subsidy or a fare hike for private buses. At present we are discussing with bus owners about providing them subsidies. Therefore demanding a fare hike at the same time is not acceptable,” he said.

The minister said his officials were negotiating the possibility of providing subsidies to private bus owners by way of loans when buying buses and spare parts and to stop bribes being taken from buses.

The minister said today’s private bus strike was a failure as the organisers had called off the strike soon after it was launched.

He rejected allegations made by the Private Bus Owners’ Association that they were threatened to call off the strike and said anyone had the right to lodge a complaint to the Human Rights Commission or the police if there were any such threats. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 4

No Hope Friday, 12 July 2013 04:05 AM

I'm sure those Private bus owners definitely agree for a subsidy. Because they're real culprit. Non of our decision makers travel by bus and I believe they don't have any knowledge of it.
Bus owners trying to get the subsidy(which also from our hard Payed taxes) by receiving the subsidy they'll continue their usual practices as now. Both sides we suffer. So it's better to give them a fair hike not a subsidy.

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Calistus Jayatilleke Friday, 12 July 2013 05:33 AM

Either way, one can not ever hope for a better service from these guys.

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WAc Friday, 12 July 2013 09:30 AM

Having defeated the strikers minister must be top of this world these days.

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Hoodwinked Saturday, 13 July 2013 12:43 AM

The toss up is a Bus Fare Hike after the PC Elections. After all he has to please the bus "Sangan" guys who scratched his back

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