Taking the good with the bad

Even though Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) announced that they have no plans to increase bus fares immediately they nonetheless demanded an 8% hike if the move is to come through.
Even though their annual bus fare modification which is due on July 1st, 2009 is approaching the president of LPBOA, Gemunu Wijeratne stated that after a discussion which was held yesterday with the private bus owners, they decided not to increase the bus fares as it is not profitable for all of them. “The National Transport Commission (NTC) has calculated 4% as the authorized amount to increase bus fares. But that amount is not sufficient for us. If we go for an increase it must be for at least 7%-8%,” he said.
The percentage of the annual bus fare modification is calculated by the NTC according to 12 factors mentioned in the National Policy of Transportation such as fuel and finance of buses. The 4% that was authorized this year, according to Wijeratne, was with regard to 11 factors exclusive of fuel.
Wijeratne also listed another reason for refraining from increasing the bus fares. “We do not want to raise the bus fares because if by any chance there is a fuel price hike, then we would not be permitted to increase the bus fares once again.”
He said that they have already informed the NTC to tell them about how they formulated the percentage and added that they would also be having a discussion with the Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, the following week regarding the issue. (LP)