Fine on passenger, compulsory leave for conductor, says WP Minister

Bus tickets compulsory

While it was compulsory for passengers to obtain bus tickets it was also compulsory for the conductors to issue the tickets, WP and NWP Provinces Transport Minister K. Lalith Wanigarathne said yesterday.

Wanigarathne said he had informed the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority Chairman Thusitha Kularathne in this regard.

“During a meeting held at the Authority a decision was taken to impose Rs. 100 fine on a ticket-less passenger and to send the conductor on compulsory leave for two months. It was also decided that the conductor should be made to attend a disciplinary training class to be conducted by the Authority. After the training he will be assigned to the duty,” he said.

He said that rules would be implemented after a week.

Se v e r a l aw a r e n e s s programmes were planned to be held to educate bus ticket checkers as well to implement the programme properly.

“I am aware about the illegal activities of bus conductors and ticket checkers and I thought of calling several meetings with the ticket checkers, to minimise the issues and to make them abide by the law,” Minister Wanigarathne said.

When contacted, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne, he said these laws were not new, but were not practised properly.

“I also discussed these issues with the Minister Wanigarathne and told him there was nothing to be implementing anew. Ticket checkers, who are assigned by the Authority, should be forced to reject bribes from bus conductors,” Wijeratne said.