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3-wheeler fares hiked, buses to follow

22 Dec 2021

  • Metered tuks to charge Rs. 80 for 1st km, up by Rs. 30
  • Minimum private bus fare to become Rs. 25
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Following the Government’s decision to increase fuel prices from yesterday (21), the All Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Union (AITWDU) increased three-wheeler fares, and the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) has said that bus fares will also definitely have to be increased. Speaking to The Morning yesterday, AITWDU President Lalith Dharmasekera said the AITWDU has decided to increase the fare for three-wheelers with meters. According to him, the fare for the first kilometre, which was Rs. 50, will be increased by Rs. 30 to Rs. 80, while the fare for each kilometre thereafter – from the second kilometre onwards – will be increased by Rs. 5 to Rs. 45. “The current three-wheeler fares were decided many years ago, when there was petrol for Rs. 117 per litre. Therefore, three-wheeler fares should definitely be increased in line with the current fuel prices. Accordingly, these revisions were made with effect from yesterday,” he said. However, he said these revisions are applicable to three-wheelers with meters and that the rates for three-wheelers without meters may more or less vary. “Only the three-wheelers with meters can make a definite decision about fares. Other three-wheeler owners may charge as much as they want. The reason for this is that there is no mechanism to regulate the three-wheeler industry,” Dharmasekera said. He said that at present, there are nearly 1.1 million three-wheelers in Sri Lanka and that there are only about 200,000 three-wheelers with meters. Therefore, he said that it is imperative that the Government intervene and formulate an expeditious programme to regulate three-wheelers. Meanwhile, LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne told The Morning yesterday that the minimum bus fare would have to be increased to at least Rs. 25 in the face of the current fuel prices. However, he said that a final decision regarding bus fares would be taken after discussions with LPBOA members. “It is unfortunate that the Government has hiked fuel prices without developing the public transport services. We have on a number of occasions made proposals to the authorities, including the Transport Ministry, on how to reduce the cost of fuel through the development of the public transport service, but they have not taken any action in this regard,” charged Wijeratne. He also said that the private bus industry is currently facing a major crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic and that the Government has not taken any steps to provide relief to private bus owners. “Currently, bus owners have to bear a huge cost to repair buses and buy spare parts. Previously, when fuel prices were increased, bus fares were not increased. However, this industry cannot be taken forward without a bus fare hike, given the present situation,” he added. Minister of Transport Pavithra Wanniarachchi was not available for comment. The price of a litre of 92 Octane petrol was increased by Rs. 20 to Rs. 177 while the price of 95 Octane petrol was increased by Rs. 23 to Rs. 207. Auto diesel price was increased by Rs. 10 per litre, bringing the new price to Rs. 121. The price of a litre of super diesel was increased by Rs. 15 to Rs. 159 and the price of kerosene was increased by Rs. 10 to Rs. 87 per litre.


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