National policy to regulate private transport

Nadira Gunatilleke

A national policy is to be formulated to regulate private transport services, especially private buses, three wheelers and school vans. Passengers should immediately notify problems in connection with private buses to the National Transport Commission (NTC) Private Transport Services Minister C B Ratnayake told the Daily News . “I will not protect any offender using my political powers and will not give in to any pressure put on me by politicians,” he said.

Minister Ratnayake said the conductor and driver of a private bus owned by the brother of a mayor had harassed a pregnant woman who requested for a seat.

“The buses owned by this person displays political leaders’ photographs to mislead the public and abuse passengers freely pretending they have power and connections,” the minister said. He said a programme is needed to educate private bus crew on public relations. “They cannot be allowed to play with people’s lives. The Penal Code punishes a person who is entrusted temporary custody of a person’s life (in this case the driver) and then destroys it,” he said. Minister Ratnayake said normal, luxury, semi luxury and super luxury bus services will be covered by the National Policy.

“We will use the GPS technology and cameras in private buses. We have already introduced the GPS technology to monitor their movements. One private bus operator removed the GPS unit from his bus and fixed it to a motorcycle which proceeded along the same route while the bus remained at a standstill. This was done to mislead us. The motorcycle with the GPS unit travelled through the route. We will seal the GPS units. If the seal is broken, the route permit of that private bus will be cancelled,” Minister Ratnayake said.