Private bus strike called off

Chaminda Perera

The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association yesterday decided to call off the scheduled token bus strike in the Western Province today following a discussion with Provincial Transport Minister Upali Kodikara and the officials of Western Province Passenger Transport Authority.

According to Association’s President Gemunu Wijeratne, a number of issues that affected the private bus operators in the Western Province were solved with the intervention of the Provincial Transport Minister.

He said their discussions were focused on the monthly log sheet charge and annual fee for route permit. Wijeratne told the Daily News that the Minister agreed to reduce the monthly log sheet charge from Rs 1,000 to Rs 600. The annual fee for route permit will also be reduced from Rs 5,000 to Rs 3,500.

He said that they discussed the training of private bus crew too. Wijeratne added that the Association decided to call off the scheduled strike as the discussions with the Provincial Minister bore fruit.