Conductor tries to retain disabled Army person's free travel bus pass Journalist refused free travel

Fred Silva Jinasena, Telwatta group correspondent

AMBALANGODA: A conductor of a private passenger bus, attached to Ambalangoda-Baddegama route via Meetiyagoda has taken an Army disabled person's free travel bus pass forcibly saying that he cannot travel in his bus without paying the due bus fares while travelling.

When the particular bus reached the Ambalangoda bus station the other passengers had helped the disabled person to go to the police post attached to this bus station regarding this matter. Accordingly the Army disabled person, Sunil Godellage of 228, 'Laksiri', Galagoda, Kuleegoda has reported the high-handed act of the conductor and the driver of the 'Chatura' private bus to the police.

He said the particular persons had taken his free travel bus pass by force and has insulted him in the presence of the passengers by humiliating him, the police report said.The police also said that certain officers attached to the office of the private bus office situated in the Ambalangoda bus station has made an unlawful attempt to settle this matter without taking action, but the police refused to comply, they said.

Meanwhile it has been reported that the same bus driver and conductor have refused to accept the free travel bus pass issued to a journalist of this area saying that the journalists are not eligible to travel on that pass.

The journalist has reported this incident to the Chief Minister Southern Province and Southern Provincial Road Passengers Transport Authority (SPRPTA), but so far they have failed to take action or hold an inquiry.