COVID Task Force responsible if private bus service collapses: Gemunu

24 November 2021 02:26 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The COVID task force should take full responsibility if the private bus service collapses, the Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) said.

According to LPBOA Chairman Gemunu Wijerathne, the country's private bus operations will be reduced by another 50% by January from its current service.

The private bus service is currently operating incurring heavy losses, he said.

"The COVID task force has warned that using public transport will cause a COVID spread in the community. With that kind of cautioning, people are in fear and they use their own vehicles or use taxi services," he said.

He stated nearly half of the total fleet of private buses are currently in operation in the country, including the inter provincial services. In terms of expenses, revenue has dropped by half, he said.

"With the lack of passengers, there is no way to continue this service. The prices of accessories such as tyres, tubes, batteries and other spare parts have gone up drastically and we cannot bear the loss further, " Wijerathne said.

Due to the use of alternative transport methods, road traffic has increased, he said.

The expenses of the bus operators have also increased, and most of the bus operators used to earn their living from this.

If the government does not implement the proposal tendered by the private bus associations, the whole fleet of private buses will grind to a halt by the middle of next year, Wijerathne added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 9

janaka Wednesday, 24 November 2021 04:11 PM

When everything was better they were on strike putting general public in trouble, now karma returned the favour...

Anne Karunaratne Wednesday, 24 November 2021 04:23 PM

Tell your bus drivers and conductors to wear clean clothes and clean masks and wear the mask properly! Ask them to NOT play loud cheap music because people are under a lot of stress these days and wearing a mask in a sweaty bus while being compelled to listen to cheap loud music is a disaster!! Not a wonder people have given up travelling by bus .

joshua Wednesday, 24 November 2021 05:05 PM

everybody wants to have the cake and eat the cake.

vince Wednesday, 24 November 2021 05:23 PM

If the private bus mafia collapses it will be a blessing for the people.

Priyantha77 Wednesday, 24 November 2021 06:59 PM

Not bus service . "Lorry bus" service

Adwani Wednesday, 24 November 2021 08:22 PM

Majority of the commuters are aged people and find it fearful to board the bus due to the aggressive behaviour of conductors who yells at the aged commuters to hurry-up.

Rocket Thursday, 25 November 2021 08:09 AM

Good if the lorry buses disappear. What a disastrous service.

A. Perers Thursday, 25 November 2021 08:26 AM

Best news for the day!! Our sincere hope that this will become a reality soon and the public will be rid of these ill-dressed, foul-mouthed, leeches. The "boss-man" must be scared that his millions he has earned by bleeding the commuter will be depleted.

Man Thursday, 25 November 2021 10:31 AM

Talking nonsense when there is a deadly pandemic.

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COVID Task Force responsible if private bus service collapses: Gemunu

Comments - 9

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