Public suffers hardships

Yasaratne GAMAGE

* Police arrest 46

* SLCTB as usual

Thousands of commuters were left stranded in Colombo and many other cities yesterday morning as private bus operators went on strike in defiance of a government promise to provide them a fuel subsidy and other concessions.

Many government offices and other establishments reported poor attendance as only SLCTB buses and a few private buses were in operation. Police arrested 46 who assaulted drivers and stoned and damaged SLCTB buses that were in operation yesterday morning during the private bus strike, in several areas.

The incidents occurred when the Sri Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association went on strike while state owned and some of the privately owned buses were transporting passengers as usual.

Police took into custody six persons for stoning SLTB buses in Matara yesterday morning while another eight suspects were arrested for obstructing a bus from plying.

Three people were arrested in Ja Ela when they forcibly stopped a bus that was travelling from Kurunegala to Colombo yesterday morning while 25 suspects were arrested in Narahenpita for violent behavior and four others were arrested when they assaulted a private bus driver and a conductor.

Police Media Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said that the arrested persons will be charged under the Public Property Act and will be remanded if found guilty until the conclusion of the trial.

He also stated that even a private bus is legally considered government property, if such a vehicle has been leased out from a state bank. He also noted the fact that it was an offence under the law to intervene and deprive the public of their right to travel using the public transport system.