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No bus fare for visually handicapped

by Rajmi Manatunga

The Private Bus Owner's Association (PBOA) has decided not to charge bus fares from the visually handicapped.

Chairman of the Association Gemunu Wijeratne told the Daily News as a preliminary step 400 blind people will be provided transport in private buses free of charge. "The decision was taken in response to a request by the Sri Lanka Blind Association to provide some kind of relief to blind commuters. We are now having a discussions with the Association as to how the relief should be granted," he said.

Accordingly blind people who wish to claim the concession are required to approach through the Blind Association which has the authority to certify their claim is genuine. "The PBOA in collaboration with the Blind Association will issue a special identity card for those who are entitled to the concession," Wijeratne said. He said that the date of implementation of the programme will be decided when PBOA representatives meet Blind Association officials next week.

Asked whether the concession would not be a loss to private bus owners, he said that the Association was willing to cover the loss by granting financial assistance to such bus owners.

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