Private Bus services operating across the country are likely to come to a standstill tomorrow (15) due to the countrywide strike to be launched by private bus owners.

Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman, Gemunu Wijeratne, said that the government should immediately withdraw the proposal to increase the minimum fine for traffic offences to Rs 2,500.  

He stated that they have made a request to Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake regarding this matter and warned of a private bus strike if the government fails to withdraw the proposal.  

During the 2017 budget speech in parliament, Karunanayake had said that road accidents claim more and more lives daily and that most of the accidents are due to the traffic violations. He proposed to increase fines charged on traffic offences and to increase the minimum fine to Rs. 2,500.

However, Karunanayake said earlier that the government will not waver in its commitment to make Sri Lankan roads safer by instilling a greater sense of discipline and respect for traffic rules. He said that lawlessness, including the rampant disregard for road rules, was one of the biggest problems in the country. Over 90 percent of the proposals received by the finance ministry in preparation of the budget called for discipline in all areas with strict adherence to the laws of the country.