Gemunu and Co to launch strike after New Year

Private bus owners are set to 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, has said 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.  He also added that LPBOA opposes the decision of the ministry that directs private bus owners to paint their buses in blue.

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. Commenting on the issue, Minister Ratnayake said he is considering an increase in bus fares after the New Year.