Pvt bus owners to take their buses off demanding a fuel subsidy
November 13, 2011 at 12:45 pm · Close Watch
Private bus owners are to take their buses off the roads from midnight on November 14 protesting the losses suffered after fuel price hike, Chairman of Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne said.
All private bus owners suffer a loss of Rs.600/- per day from short distance travels and a loss of Rs.1200/- per day from long distance travels due to the increase of price of a diesel liter, he disclosed.
Therefore, Gemunu Wijeratne urged the government to provide a fuel subsidy for all the private buses. “If the government does not respond positively, we’ll take our buses off the roads from midnight on November 14″, he said addressing a media briefing held in Colombo today(13).
Meanwhile, when contacted Minister of Private Transportation C.B.Rathnayake said that bus fares will not be increased. While pointing out that the government has given number of relief to the private bus industry, he emphasized that such trade union action is totally unacceptable.
The Minister also stated a special discussion regarding the matter will be held with the private bus owners tomorrow(14).
(JNW)