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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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No hike in bus fares just now by DEEPAL WARNAKULASURIYA No decision has been taken to increase the bus fares just now, State Transport Minister Piyasoma Upali told the "Sunday Observer" yesterday. The Minister said that he had informed the Chairman of the National Transport Commission (NTC) to discuss the problem with the Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association. The LPBOA should forward their suggestions for consideration by the Ministry or the relevant authorities. The LPBOA had earlier issued an ultimatum that it would increase fares by 30 per cent if the government failed to introduce a National Transport Policy on or before May 15. The Chairman of the LPBOA, Gemunu Wijeratne, said that it was up to the government to approve the policy drafted by the previous regime and implement it. Mr. Wijeratne pointed out that they could not operate the buses without a substantial fare hike as the cost of fuel and spare parts had already gone up. "If the proposed national policy was introduced, it would only allow for an eight per cent fare hike annually and the increase in percentage in future would depend on the rate of inflation. However, it would be around 15 per cent", he said. The Association was of the view that the National Transport Commission had at last realised the need to increase bus fares for both sectors, state as well as private. |
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