Bus Unions Failed to Reach Consensus and one Union Poised to Strike

A discussion on bus fare increase was held yesterday between Minister of Transport Nimal Siripala de Silva and bus unions.

However All Island Private Bus Owners’ Union Federation Secretary, Anjana Priyanjith said that the decision taken was not favourable to them.But Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Union Chairman, Gemunu Wijeratne said that the union would give the Government one month for the bus fare revision. The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Union Chairman said that his union was giving time for formulating criteria of the new fare system.

In the meantime All Island Private Bus Owners’ Union Federation is getting ready to launch a strike demanding an increase in bus fare between  10 – 15 per cent.

Transport and Civil Aviation Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva appointed an experts’ committee yesterday for formulating the criteria with regard to the bus fare increase.