Private bus operators across the island are to withdraw from public transport services from midnight tomorrow (November 14), due to the government’s inaction towards providing a fuel subsidy to bus operators according to Sri Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association.
President of the SLPBOA Gemunu Wijeratne told a press conference today that authorities had ignored the repeated calls for a fuel subsidy to be provided with the recent fuel price hike.
No solution to the issue being delivered from the end of transport authorities had prompted the strike action, he told media today (13).
Bus operators have had to face grave difficulties following the increase in fuel prices, similar to difficulties faced by employees after a salary cutback, Wijeratne said.
“We request that the government provide a diesel subsidy, if not we would take to an island-wide bus strike starting from midnight tomorrow” he stated.
