Govt. agrees to bus fare hike

State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry, Dilum Amunugama says the government has agreed to a bus fare hike at a meeting with representatives of the private bus owners associations.

During the meeting, Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) President, Gemunu Wijerathne said that they expected an increase between 15 to 20%.

State Minister Amunugama agreed that there should be a hike in fares.”We have to increase the fare. We also have to think of the people. We will come up with a proposal soon. We have not decided about increasing train fares yet,” he said.

On Tuesday, private bus owners demanded that the government allow a bus fare hike if it could not grant concessions to the industry. Inter-Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA) Secretary Anjana Priyanjith said fuel prices had increased dramatically and the already battered industry would collapse without an immediate fare increase.

“We need the minimum bus fare to be increased to Rs. 25, which is currently at Rs.14, and the overall bus fare by 25 percent,” he said.