Private bus owners threaten to strike if minimum bus fare is not increased to 15 rupees

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - Private Bus Owners Associations are calling for the minimum bus fare to be increased from 10 rupees to 15 rupees, in the wake of the fuel price hike. The All Ceylon Private Bus Owners Federation has threatened to launch a strike on the 16^th of this month if the minimum fare is not increased. According to Anjana Priyanjith, Secretary of the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners Federation, considering the increase of the price of diesel by 14 rupees per litre and that the annual revision of bus fares is due on the 1^st of July, fares cannot be increased on two occasions and it would be unethical. Therefore he stated that both bus associations have reached a unanimous decision that the minimum fare should be increased to 15 rupees. Further, he said they are making the relevant proposal to the government and are giving them time until Wednesday the 15^th. However, Priyanjith added that, if the government evades this deadline, all bus owners will pull their buses from services at midnight.