Private bus owners lose millions due to extortions

Rasika Somarathna

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday alleged that private bus owners were loosing around Rs. 80 million monthly because of extortions by underworld elements and vowed to enact tough measures to eradicate the menace.

Announcing sweeping changes to the public transport service, the Minister said around 40 per cent of the income generated was not reaching bus owners because of this and added that already 23 people had been apprehended in this connection. He also made a scathing attack on the Sri Lanka Transport Board's financial administration, calling it as one of the worst and most inept in the country.

"Even though the income generated is Rs. 12 billion annually the management does not even have a fully qualified Chartered Accountant to manage its affairs," the Minister charged.

He added that a probe had been launched into the massive Rs. 8 billion fraud involving the employees' EPF money and added that it was only second to the VAT scam.

The Minister said all responsible would be brought to book and added that workers should not fear unnecessarily as things were under control. Alahapperuma said a National Transport Policy would be introduced before April, vowing to usher in a new era in the transport sector without interference from political or other forces.