Bus owners to launch strike
Private bus owners will launch an islandwide strike after the Sinhala and Hindu New Year if the government fails to increase bus fares or provide them with a diesel subsidy.
Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA), President, Gemunu Wijeratne, told Ceylon Today that though the Association had been requesting a diesel subsidy or a bus fare hike from February 2013, the Ministry of Private Transport Services had not taken any steps in that direction.
He added, according to the National Bus Fare Policy, bus fares should have gone up from February 2013. "If we do not get the bus fare hike within two weeks, we will launch an islandwide bus strike. We are expecting a fare hike of 10%," he added. He also added that LPBOA opposes the decision of the ministry that directs private bus owners to paint their buses in blue. "If we are provided with the funds to paint the buses, we will do so; not otherwise," he added. Meanwhile, the All Island Private Bus Owners' Federation (AIPBOF) General Secretary, Anjana Priyanjith said, Minister of Private Transport Services, C.B. Ratnayake, had given him an undertaking that bus fares will be increased after the New Year.
"As the minister promised to allow a bus fare hike we will not be involved in a bus strike till the end of New Year season. However, if it is not increased after the New Year, we would definitely launch a bus strike," he said.
Commenting on the issue, Minister Ratnayake said he is considering an increase in bus fares after the New Year.
"Many people go to their hometowns during the New Year season and we do not want to inconvenience them," he added.
Category: Local
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