Normal bus service tomorrow despite strike threat

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Private Transport Services Minister C.B. Ratnayake has called upon the public not to panic because of the strike threat from the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association demanding a 12.5 percent fare hike, as all other private bus operators are ready to operate their buses as usual.

He called upon the public to engage in their routine activities and schoolchildren to attend school as normal transport services will be operational tomorrow despite the strike threat by one private bus owners’ association. “If a legitimately elected government takes a threat of one association seriously it would be a joke. We do not take this threat seriously,” the Minister said.

He said the decision to increase the 7.6 percent bus fare hike was taken after the Private Transport Services Ministry and the National Transport Commission conducted discussions with the Private Bus Owners’ Associations considering the cost factors on private bus operations.

He said the particular Association withdrew from the discussion. “They think that the Transport Ministry and the National Transport Commission should take a decision on a bus fare hike after discussing only with them. They feel that other bus owners’ associations do not have active memberships and have no say in the private bus industry.” he said.

Meanwhile, Lanka Private Bus Owners Association President, Gemunu Wijeratne told the Sunday Observer that their association will go ahead with their planned strike demanding a minimum of 12.5 percent bus fare hike tomorrow if there is no positive response to their demand from the Government.

”We know that people will be inconvenienced by our decision but very reluctantly we have to go ahead with our planned strike as the fare hike approved by the National Transport Commission is not sufficient compared with the expenses on bus operations,” he said.

He claimed that their association has more than 15,000 members which represents more than 75 percent of the bus owners in the country.

”Our board will meet on Sunday to decide whether we should launch a continuous strike or a one day strike to meet their demand,” he added.

He said although they initially demanded 15 percent fare hike they are now demanding a minimum 12.5 per cent increase including Rs.2 hike in the minimum bus fare. The NTC has agreed to increase the Rs.6 minimum fare to Rs.7.

Wijeratne said that Ministers and senior government officials were in touch with their organisation to discuss the issue and the Private Sector Bus Transport Minister has agreed to meet them tomorrow.

He said that their association is educating the public about their strike enabling them to make alternative transport arrangements.