The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association says the annual bus fare revision should take effect tomorrow (01) under established policy.

Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne stated that the National Transport Commission has already been informed of the required adjustments, but accused authorities of failing to hold discussions with bus associations. 

He warned that if the expected fare hike is not implemented, the association will resort to legal action.

Responding to inquiries, a spokesperson for the National Transport Commission confirmed that the proposal for the annual fare revision has been submitted to the Cabinet. 

The Commission said the revision will be implemented once Cabinet approval is granted. (Newswire)

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Private buses operating on Route No. 138 between Homagama and Pettah withdrew from service today (23), citing rising fuel prices.

Bus owners said they had requested the government to increase bus fares following three fuel price hikes in the past month, but since no action was taken, they decided to halt operations.

Drivers and conductors explained that the fuel price increases have led to daily losses of nearly Rs. 10,000, prompting owners to suspend services.

As a result, large numbers of passengers arriving at the Homagama main bus stand and the Makumbura Multi-Modal Centre in Kottawa today faced significant difficulties in meeting their travel needs.

To ease the situation, the Homagama Bus Depot deployed buses from alternate routes to cover operations along Route 138. (Newswire)

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The nationwide strike action that was to be launched by private bus associations against the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ Police traffic operations has been called off. 

It is reported that the private bus associations had suspended the planned strike after successful discussions with the Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya today. 

Accordingly, the private bus associations have been granted a 03-month grace period to adhere to the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ Police traffic operations.

Private bus associations had resorted to strike action after expressing objections to the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ Police traffic operations, under which they had been imposed fines and had also been ordered to remove illegal modifications. 

Sri Lanka Police had launched the traffic operations under the government’s ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme in a bid to minimise road accidents. (Newswire)

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The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) has warned of halting bus services across the country in the near future to protest the repeated inspection of private buses for excess smoke and the imposing of fines.

Chairman of the Association Gemunu Wijeratne told the media today that the Department of Motor Traffic is continuously conducting inspections of private buses to identify shortcomings. 

The Association does not oppose action against excess noise, modifications, stickers, etc. However, complaints have been received from bus owners that the Police were stopping buses and conducting smoke tests while on duty, Wijeratne said.

Pointing out that buses are allowed to operate only after obtaining the relevant vehicle emissions licence, he said, however, fines are being imposed by the Police after repeatedly checking buses for excess smoke. 

“The cause for the excess smoke is due to the importation of auto diesel with a high percentage of sulfur. If quality fuel is distributed then the issue of excess smoke can be resolved,” he said. 

Gemunu Wijeratne stated that the Department of Motor Traffic and the Ministry of Transportation have been warned of this.

He further accused the authorities of subjecting only private buses to smoke tests, stating government buses are not being inspected. (NewsWire)

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