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No change in tuk fares but bus fares to rise

14 Jun 2021

 By Buddhika Samaraweera   Following the Government's decision to increase fuel prices, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) is in talks to revise bus fares but the All Ceylon Three-Wheeler Drivers' Association (ACTDA) has decided not to increase three-wheeler fares in view of the economic difficulties faced by the people. When contacted by The Morning, ACTDA President Lalith Dharmasekera said that they had not decided to increase the three-wheeler fares in the current situation. He said that there was no moral capacity to raise fares at a time when people were facing a lot of difficulties, especially in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Three-wheelers are rarely used by the people these days due to the travel restrictions. So there is no point in increasing fares. We are ready to bear the loss even when the fuel prices have gone up,” he said. However, Dharmasekera said that no systematic programme is in place to determine three-wheeler fares and that the Government, in particular the Ministry of Transport, should intervene and formulate a programme in this regard. He said that due to the lack of such a system, three-wheeler drivers would decide the fares as they wish, especially in rural areas where there are no taxi meters. Speaking further, he added that the fuel subsidy for three-wheelers introduced by the then Government in 2004 is not operational at present. He said that it was not possible to implement it properly due to the lack of a programme to properly identify and regulate the service of three-wheeler professionals. However, when contacted by The Morning, LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said that with the increase in fuel prices, prices of all other goods and services would also increase. Therefore, the National Transport Commission (NTC) would be informed of the loss incurred by the bus owners after studying all the expenses incurred on spare parts, lubricants, and tyres, he said. He said that the LPBOA would discuss the matter with its members and communicate the final decision within two days. However, he said the increase in fuel prices was unacceptable in the face of the current situation where people are facing many difficulties. Buses do not run these days due to the travel restrictions. Private bus owners have been in a big crisis for about a year and a half during the Covid-19 pandemic, he added. The Ministry of Energy in a statement announced that the fuel prices would be revised with effect from midnight on 11 June. Accordingly, the price of 92 octane petrol was increased by Rs. 20 per litre and 95 octane petrol by Rs. 23 per litre.  The price of a litre of auto diesel was increased by Rs. 7 and that of a litre of super diesel by Rs. 12. The price of a litre of kerosene was increased by Rs. 7. Accordingly, the new price of 92 octane petrol is Rs. 157 per litre while the new price of 95 octane petrol is Rs. 184. The new price of a litre of auto diesel is Rs. 111 and the new price of a litre of super diesel is Rs. 144. The new price of a litre of kerosene is Rs. 77. Attempts to contact Minister of Transport Gamini Lokuge to inquire if he, as the subject minister, has had any discussion in this regard, were unsuccessful.


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