Transport authorities under fire as fuel costs rise

Colombo, May 4 (Daily Mirror) - A controversial standoff has emerged in Sri Lanka’s transport sector, with key authorities and unions refusing to revise fares despite a fresh fuel price hike, raising questions about transparency, political pressure, and who ultimately bears the cost.

The National Transport Commission (NTC), alongside powerful private transport groups, has opted to hold fares steady for now, a move critics say defies economic logic and masks deeper tensions within the sector.

NTC Director General Dr. Nilan Miranda told the Daily Mirror that a Rs. 10 increase in diesel prices is “not significant enough” to trigger a bus fare revision, an assertion already being challenged by industry insiders who argue cumulative hikes are being ignored.

Meanwhile, Gemunu Wijeratne of the Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) admitted that the impact is merely being “postponed,” with the burden expected to roll into June’s fuel pricing review. This delayed approach has sparked criticism that commuters may face a sharper, consolidated fare hike later.

Adding to the confusion, Lalith Dharmasekera of the All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers' Union (AITWDU) claimed three-wheeler drivers are effectively stuck, unable to adjust fares independently due to NTC’s inaction. This has left drivers squeezed between rising operational costs and regulatory uncertainty.

However, in stark contrast, the All Island School Transport Professionals Association has openly signaled an imminent fee hike. Secretary Malsree De Silva warned that the diesel price increase has made revisions unavoidable, though discussions with parents are promised before implementation.