If fuel price are reduced, 2nd km fare down by Rs 5: Three-wheeler Assn

If the Government would reduce fuel prices following the decrease in the crude oil prices in the world market, the Lanka Self-Employed Professionals' National Three-Wheeler Federation today said that they would reduce the fare for the second kilometre in a three-wheeler taxi by Rs.5.

The benefit of the fuel price concession would be granted to every person in the country, Association President Sunil Jayawardana said in a media briefing.

"There is no point of reducing fuel prices in the country if the government was unable to pass the concession among the public. The earlier tax concession given by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not benefit the public," he said.

Following the recent tax reduction, the charges for the first kilometre was reduced by Rs.10 and Rs.5 for the second kilometre with effect from January 1, Mr Jayawardana said.

The charge for the first kilometre was at Rs.60 and the second kilometre was at Rs.45.

"Though the Association requested its members to reduce the taxi fare and grant the concession to the people, most of the taxi drivers did not act as we requested," he said.

Therefore, we request the Government not to reduce the fuel prices as the concession would not be passed to the public, he said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)