Breaking News

Video: No bus fare hike this time

26 Jun 2014 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Private bus owners affirmed today that there would be no bus fare hike as it would further lead to the collapse of the industry.

Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne said that they had decided not to increase bus fares on July 1 as they do annually.

“If we do then it would further collapse the industry and the passengers will also move out of the industry seeking other alternatives,” he said.

“It is sad to say the biggest reason for the collapse of the industry is due to the large number of new super luxury and semi luxury services carried out by wealthy, influential individuals with political backing,” he noted.

“There is a big mafia out there. We have even written to Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take action on such frauds and streamline the process of issuing bus permits,” he said.

Wijeratne also said the National Transport Commission (NTC) could not increase bus fares as they do not have any power to make such arbitrary decisions without consulting the bus operators.

He said though a decision was taken not to increase bus fares, there had been a 15 percent increase in lubricant, prices of oil filters, log prices and even income taxes had also been increased over the past year.

He said they had requested the transport authorities to issue them with 50 permits to ply on the expressways promising to provide Rs.2.4 million from each bus per year.

“This would give the government Rs.120 million a year and the Treasury will not need to allocate money for ‘Gemi Seriya’ and ‘Sisu Seriya’ bus programmes,” he said.

He said he was pessimistic about the response of the transport authorities to the proposal seeking 50 new expressway permits. (Supun Dias and Sanath Desmond)

WATCH

Breaking News

Video: No bus fare hike this time

Most Popular Articles

More arrests of lawyers, politicians and senior police officers

Former National Lotteries Board Chairperson Shyamila Perera arrested

Girl visited her lover, gang raped by lover and his friends

Updated World Test Championship standings after West Indies’ record win over Sri Lanka

FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Bracket and Schedule: Road to the Final Takes Shape

Country loses US $ 1 billion in fraudulent transactions, certain banks involved

Latest News

70% of prison population linked to drug addiction, overcrowding concerns raised

225 awareness programmes conducted to protect schoolchildren from drug use

Full match schedule & SLST kick-off times: INFOGRAPHIC

Visiting Pakistan Defence Secretary holds talks with Sri Lankan counterpart

Historic locomotive move between Kandy and Peradeniya without tracks