Final decision on increasing bus fares today

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – A final decision pertaining to increasing bus fares is due to be announced today.

Private bus owners are scheduled to meet officials of the Ministry of Transport, and officials of the National Transport Commission this evening to discuss bus fare revisions.

Chairman of the NTC Shashi Welgama said the bus fare revision according to the National Bus Fare Policy has already been compiled.

Bus owners are requesting a bus fare revision in line with the recent increase in fuel prices and have proposed that the minimum bus fare of Rs.14 be increased to Rs.20 and other bus fares be increased by between 20-25%.

Chairman of the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association Gemunu Wijeratne speaking to NewsRadio said the discussion will focus on three matters including the percentages by which the NTC has proposed a revision.

Wijeratne stated that the bus fare revision will be just and will not burden the public.

He said the increase is inevitable in order to sustain the private bus industry.