Warning from minister to private bus crew

Irangika Range

Action will be taken to cancel route permits of private buses if commuters are inconvenienced unjustly and unfairly by a private bus strike. New route permits will also not be issued for canceled permits, Private Transport Services Minister C B Ratnayake said.

Minister Ratnayake

Addressing a seminar on improving the efficiency and quality of luxury bus services in the country, the minister said the government's responsibility is to provide a quality and efficient passenger transport service.

"We will not allow any element or group to inconvenience commuters through a strike action," he said. The seminar was organised by the National Transport Commission at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo yesterday. "Commuters are our customers. They use the passenger transport services to reach their destination easily and safely. Therefore, it is our duty to offer a safe, convenient, reliable and an affordable service," the minister said.

The cooperation of all bus operators including, private and SLTB crew, is compulsory to implement the combined timetable a success.

The minister said he would instruct the Ministry Secretary to submit the report within a week after studying if the so called private bus operating associations in Sri Lanka have been properly registered under the provisions of the Company Act.