Bus owners to boycott ministry meeting

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) said yesterday that it would boycott the Private Transport Services Ministry’s tripartite

committee discussion today (Friday) regarding the need for a fare increase, asserting that the fares should be increased irrespective of any meeting.

LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeyratne said that the association, whose members operate a majority of the private buses in the Western Province, would not be taking part in the discussions in protest at the government’s failure to implement the National Bus Fare Policy.

“The revised bus fares should have been introduced on July 1. We will not agree to a discussion because it is unlikely that they would want to increase the fares until the upcoming elections are over,” Wijeyratne said.

Meanwhile, the Western Province Transport Authority said yesterday that it would go ahead with the tripartite meeting today de-

They are not the only group of bus associations in the Western Province. We will proceed with the discussion as planned

spite the absence of the LPBOA. “They are not the only group of bus associations in the Western Province. We will proceed with the discussion as planned,” said Western Province Transport Authority chairman Amila Ranmandala.