Gemunu Wijerathne, chairman of the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association, stated yesterday that raising bus prices is unreasonable at a time when 90% of private buses are not operating on the roads and customers are experiencing difficulties.
He said that the government had increased bus fees at a time when buses were not running while simultaneously raising gasoline costs at a time when fuel was scarce.
A government of this kind serves no purpose, he said. During the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak, he said, bus tickets had increased because public transportation was only permitted to carry people in accordance with its seating capacity.
He said that in the current situation, those who ride on a bus’ roof must pay bus fares.
“There is nothing improper about carrying out the yearly bus fare modification. However, this might have been delayed until at least 75% of the buses started running, he noted.
According to him, the rise in the minimum bus ticket to Rs. 40 will make people reluctant to use private buses, which will further the industry’s troubles.
