'Private bus owners strike unfair'

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Private Bus Owners' Association announced a strike because of some misunderstandings they have. They did not inform about it to the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority. It is unfair to launch a sudden strike. The Authority invited them for a discussion today, Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority Chairman Piyasena Dissanayake said.

He was addressing a press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday. He said the Authority expects Association representatives to be present at the discussion today. Private bus workers are against this strike. There is no move whatsoever to increase the number of private buses by 20 percent. School children, public servants and all those living in rural areas suffer without a proper public transport system. They have problems with minimum bus fare and combined bus timetables.

A study is being conducted with the Moratuwa University assistance on present bus services, public requests and the possibility of fulfilling public requests. A combined bus timetable will be introduced to selected routes in three districts from March under the guidance of Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Around 257 combined timetables have already been made. Bus fares can be increased in June every year and the National Transport Commission has the power to do so, he said.

Monthly around 700 offences are reported from a single route and daily around 25 to 30 offences reported against route numbers 138 and 100. In 2009 the Authority earned Rs 1.3 million through fines on private buses. At the moment around 7,611 private buses operate in the Western Province. Arrangements have already been taken to cancel the permits of private buses which do not meet with required standards and abuse passengers, he added.

Lanka Private Bus Workers Association Chairman B N Perera said that they do not support the strike because it is unfair. The population in some areas of the country had increased by 100 percent during the recent past and people in rural areas and distant areas suffer without proper public transport.

They wish to sit and travel to Colombo but it is not possible for them at the moment.

They have to walk long distances to take a bus and even then they have to stand and travel long distances.

Increasing the minimum bus fare by one rupee is something that create conflicts between passengers and private bus workers. They are improving their relationship now and this new move will destroy it. The uniform given to private bus crew is another burning issue. They cannot wear it during the whole day because it becomes smelly after long hours of work.

The police should conduct an investigation about the Private Bus Owners' Association's claim of a Rs 45 million monthly ransom they pay. This claim is to shame the police and an attempt to sling mud at the Government.

The truth is there is no one taking ransom. The only solution to all the existing problems is providing job security for private bus workers.

Only then they will think about the well-being of the passengers instead of making money to meet demands of their employers who have the power to sack them as they wish.