Stop the reign of terror by bus mudalalis

Enough is enough! The general public, the vast majority of voters of this country are sick of the Private Bus service. We refuse to be pawns and hostages in the hands of the unscrupulous Private Bus Owners Association in order for them to enact their greedy, unjust and lawless agendas. We, the people, who voted this government into power did so in order that they might serve the general public of this country, not to pander to the whims and fancies or fill the pockets of the Private Bus mafia. Therefore, we, the majority voters of this country, welcome and applaud the recent hikes to traffic fines imposed by the Minister of Transport together with the government and we strongly request the authorities not to bow to the threats of the PBOA.

At every instance when the PBOA has demanded for increases or reversals of levies, they have played the same song- we are demanding these things so that we can give the public a better service. But has that materialized? No. The demands they have got fulfilled by riding on the backs of the poor bus travellers have not resulted in any benefit to them at all. Instead they have lined the already plump pockets of the PBOA membership. Why do I say that? The drivers are still reckless racers, the conductors are still foul-mouthed, 90% of the private buses do not issue tickets, windows are stuck or broken, seats are unhinged or the covers are torn often messing up our clothes. There are no bells and depending on the volume of the music you have to yell your desire to disembark.

The one rupee and two rupee balance is never given unless the passenger asks for it and many do not dare ask for it because they will be ridiculed by the conductor. Reckless driving and sudden braking has resulted in passengers being injured and there is no compensation given other than the sharp tongue of the driver and conductor. The demands that have been so far met by positing the welfare of the passenger have not benefitted the passenger in any way.

Therefore, as voters who appointed this government with great hopes of change, we demand that the government take steps to end this Private Bus service. Cancel the licences and route permits of those owners who refuse to submit to these just increases by the State. Recruit the drivers and bus conductors who will lose their jobs as a result to the SLTB after stringent testing. As is seen in many of the other countries, establish a strong State-run Public Transport system by reforming management of the SLTB and CGR so that they can efficiently meet the transport demand of your voters, the general public. Bring an end to the unscrupulous “Bus Mudalali” in this country. As those who sent you to Parliament to be our representatives I think we have the absolute right to make this demand from the government and we hope some stable, concrete solutions will be arrived at soon. A.N. Perera Colombo 5