Minister unfazed by bus strike threats; fishermen to join in
February 12, 2012 11:22 pm
Private Transport Services Minister C. B. Ratnayake says although private bus operators threaten of strike action tomorrow it will be ‘unsuccessful’.
He noted that threats of withdrawing from operations have been made on several previous occasions and that however ‘nothing had happened’.
Speaking to Ada Derana the Minister affirmed that no trouble can be allowed to affect the passengers and that strict legal action will be utilized if any disruptive act is carried out.
The government should take immediate steps to either approve a bus fare hike or provide fuel concessions, says President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Gemunu Wijeyratne.
He assured that the proposed bus strike, from midnight today (Feb. 12), will continue as planned and that the private buses will pull out from operations by tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile fishermen in Negombo have decided to boycott fishing from midnight today as well citing the increase in fuel prices that have gravely affected their fishing activities.
Around 50,000 multi-day, single-day and small time fishermen will refrain from going out to sea from tomorrow, it is said.
