- Minimum fare hiked to Rs 30
Bus fares were hiked by 12.19% from midnight yesterday (23), after a near standstill in private bus services left thousands of commuters stranded across the country.
The disruption unfolded yesterday morning, with long queues reported at major bus terminals as private operators withdrew from service pending a fare revision. The move came in response to last week’s fuel price increase, which operators said had made it impossible to continue under the previous fare structure.
Under the new revision, the minimum fare rises from Rs. 27 to Rs. 30, while the maximum fare increases by Rs. 263, from Rs. 2,159 to Rs. 2,422.
Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed the increase, while the National Transport Commission (NTC) noted the fuel price hike had pushed the existing fare formula beyond the 10% threshold required for a revision. A Cabinet paper on the matter was submitted yesterday, with approval granted within the day, paving the way for the new fare structure.
Following the announcement, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) said services would resume as normal from today (24).
Despite this, commuters bore the brunt of yesterday’s disruption. The NTC confirmed a shortage of buses in several areas, with expressway services coming to a complete halt, forcing passengers onto regular routes. However, Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses continued to operate as usual.
Bus unions maintained that their withdrawal was not a strike but a necessity driven by mounting losses. LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said more than 90% of private buses had remained off the roads, stressing that operators could not sustain services amid rising fuel and maintenance costs.
“This is a business. No one can work without an income,” he said, noting that short-distance routes incur losses of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 6,000 per day, while long-distance services lose between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 20,000.
He also criticised delays in securing Cabinet approval for fare revisions, arguing that previous governments had acted more swiftly. “Without discussions with us, it will be difficult to move forward,” he added.
Wijeratne further clarified that school transport services, including ‘Sisu Sariya’, continued without disruption.
Similarly, Inter Provincial Bus Owners’ Association President Sarath Wijitha Kumara said operators had no choice but to suspend services until fares were increased, reiterating that the move should not be interpreted as a strike.
The standoff underscores the growing pressure on public transport services amid rising fuel costs, with yesterday’s disruption exposing the immediate impact on daily commuters.