Conductors told: Wear uniforms by Feb. 15

Sandasen Marasinghe

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered the Western Provincial Transport Authority to ensure that private bus conductors wear a uniform and issue tickets with the ticket machines by February 15 and ordered the cancellation of route permits for non-compliance.

The Supreme Court Bench comprised of Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC and Supreme Court Justices Shirani Thilakawardene and Chandra Ekanayake.

Western Province Transport Authority chairman G.M. Somasiri submitted to Court that they have taken steps to construct a building at the Battaramulla bus stand with the WPTA head office at the upper floor and a super market in the ground floor while the present bus-stand be shifted to Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha in Battaramulla.

Private Bus Owners' Association Chairman Gamunu Wijeratne submitted that the Kaduwela and Athurugiriya bus commuters would have to face numerous inconveniences as a result of the shift of the bus stand to the new location.

The Supreme Court informed the WPTA to have a discussion with the Western Province Chief Minister to come to a resolution to retain the bus stand at the old location without shifting.

These observations were made when the Fundamental Rights case filed by Attorney Geethani Wijesinghe of the Environmental Foundation Ltd was taken up for trial before the Supreme Court. The petitioner cited Minister of Environment Patali Champika Ranawaka, the Central Environment Authority and others as respondents.

Filing the application petitioner submitted that the Metropolitan was the area where air pollution was the highest.

Although there were many laws and regulations in respect of environmental pollution they were not implemented by the relevant authorities.

The petitioner further stated that by the same act her rights were violated and pleaded to the Supreme Court to make the relevant authorities implement those laws and regulations.

Deputy Solicitor General Bimba Thilakaratne appeared for the Attorney General, Attorney Uditha Egalahewa for petitioner while Upali Jayamane for the WPTA.