Seesaw battle:

Commuters vs bus owners

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma was not too happy over the planned fare increase by private bus operators but said that a final decision has not yet been made.

"However I will meet the officials of the private bus operators Association on Sunday to discuss this matter further,".

He also said he does not believe in allowing a steep increase as the Government do not want to impose too much burden on the people at this juncture.

When confronted Petroleum and Petroleum Resource Development Minister A. H. M. Fowzie was reluctant to make a comment on the planned fare hike by private bus operators.

"But, as the former Transport Minister I must tell that the decision taken by private bus operators at this juncture was not fair,".

He recalled that during his tenure of office the private bus operators did not heed to his request to bring down the bus fare when diesel price was slashed down from Rs. 67 to Rs. 60.

Asked to comment on whether the state owned SLCTB will also fall in line with the private bus operators, the Minister said that SLCTB cannot be compared to the private bus organisation.

"You may be aware that the SLCTB has taken the full responsibility to provide an excellent service to the general public even till late in the night".

The SLCTB had to pay a huge amount for the purchase of 2,000 new buses in November last year added to the maintenance cost of all CTB depots high.

"Therefore I don't think it is unfair if they too increase the bus fare by a marginal sum, just to cover the losses," the Minister defended.

President of the Private Bus Operators Association Gemunu Wijeratna pointed the finger at the price increase of diesel once again by the Government within a very short period and this situation has badly hit the private buses operators and trishaw owners and the vegetable and fish transporters in an indirect way.

"However I must tell the people can not blame us as this is an annual increase allowed by the Government to the private bus operators to run a smooth service".

His Association was reluctantly compelled to increase the fare, not only due to the price increase of diesel, but also considering twelve other structures, including the high cost of lubricants, tyres, tubes, spare parts, etc.

"However we have not yet taken a decision on the percentage, and our Association will meet the Transport Minister today and hope to discuss our grievances as well".

A 34 year old banker of Pitakotte, Upul Ranasinghe pleaded that the bus fare of state owned SLCTB buses should not go up taking consideration of day-to-day problems of eighty per cent low income families in the country.

Lalith Kumara of Kelaniya said "It is very unfair if the private bus operators were going for a big increase just because the Government has increased the fuel prices by a few rupees,". "I heard the private bus operators are going to jack up the fare by 20 per cent and if that is so, it is grossly unfair,".

"Therefore I call upon the authorities not to allow the bus owners to increase the bus fare, to more than eight per cent".

Bimal Sooriyaarachchi of Kolonnawa said that it was the sole responsibility of the Government to keep check on fares and therefore, must see to that they do not allow an arbitrary increase. "People voted for the Government at the last election, expecting the President with the help of the JVP to bring about a solution to the high cost of living".

This fare hike certainly not affect our politicians at all, he remarked. A 43-year-old vegetable supplier of Bandarawela, Sumanasena Rajakaruna said the price increase of diesel hit vegetable transporters badly and asked the Government to give a diesel subsidy to private bus owners and to regular vegetable transporters.

"I think the Government could do it by cutting down unnecessary expenses especially the perks for ministries and their staffers."

A private bus owner Kusumsiri Premaratna of Piliyandala, on the contrary was not too pleased with the latest planned move by the private bus operators at a time like this, when prices of essential commodities have sky rocketed already.

"I request the Government to focus its attention on low income families, especially those who voted for President Rajapaksa at the last Presidential Election".

He asked the Government to grant fuel subsidy and also come down hard on ministerial extravagance.

A 22-year-old student in the Engineering Faculty of the Moratuwa University, Muditha Hennayaka said that the Government can easily give a fuel subsidy by cutting down foreign jaunts by Ministers, their kith and kin and staffers.

"We are not against the President going on foreign visits since he is the head of State".

"But it is shocking to see the ground retinue who accompany the President. Security detail, yes, but other hangers-on, no!

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