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Dilum rules out unvaccinated bus fare hike

04 Aug 2021

  • Pvt. bus owners respond angrily 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry, and Community Police Services State Minister Dilum Amunugama has stated that there would be no extra bus fares charged, except for the fare hikes announced in November 2020.  In response the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) has claimed that the Government should be held fully responsible in the event of a rapid outbreak of the Covid-19 in and through public transport services. Amunugama recently told the media that there would be no extra bus fares charged, except for those announced in November 2020 by the National Transport Commission (NTC). He also said that these fares had been prescribed on the condition that the passengers are transported as per the seating capacity of buses, taking into account the prevailing situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.  He had made the said statement in a backdrop where the LPBOA has made a request to the NTC that they be allowed to charge 25% more than the normal fare for passengers over 30 years of age, who have not received a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.  However, as Amunugama’s statement indicates that the LPBOA's suggestion will not be granted approval, The Morning contacted the LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne who said that they were seeking approval to charge 25% more than the normal bus fare from those who have not received a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, not for the purpose of earning profits, but to operate the bus services in a hygienic manner, considering the current situation.  “This is not a proposal we made with the intention of making money. This proposal was made because it is necessary to do everything possible to provide a single seat for those who have not been vaccinated. The failure to do so could lead to the spread of the virus and if such does occur, the Government should take full responsibility for it,” he added. When contacted by The Morning, Transport Ministry Secretary Monti Ranatunga said that the Ministry has no intervention to make in this regard, adding that the NTC would look into the matter if it has received the LPBOA's request.  After about three months of halted operations, inter Provincial public transport resumed on 1 August, following the Government’s decision to call all public servants for regular services from 2 August in adherence to the health guidelines. Accordingly, interprovincial bus services, which had been suspended for nearly three months, were resumed. Following the resumption of public transport services, the LPBOA had made a request to the NTC that they be allowed to charge 25% more than the normal fare for passengers over 30 years of age, who have not received a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.  The LPBOA had earlier proposed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that bus fares should be doubled for unvaccinated passengers due to the increased risk of operating public transport for them. Wijeratne told The Morning on 1 August that the LPBOA had requested from the Government that they be allowed to charge double the fare for passengers who have not received a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, due to the increased risk of transporting them. He also said that the LPBOA had requested the Government to ensure that all bus drivers and conductors are fully vaccinated by at least 15 August, adding that 90% have already received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.


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