• Passengers sans ticket and conductors not issuing same to be fined 
• Tickets must be obtained before 1st stop, must contain bus/serial nos./start-end points/fare, fine Rs. 100 plus double the fare
• Temp. driving licence from N’goda Transport Med. Institute

The issuance of travel tickets to private bus passengers will be mandatory from today (1 October), the Road Passenger Transport Authority of the Western Province (WP) has announced. 

The authority noted that starting from today, passengers travelling in buses without a valid ticket will be fined. The Operations Manager of the authority Jeevinda Keerthirathna emphasised that conductors who fail to issue tickets will also be fined. Accordingly, Keerthirathna stated that from today, all passengers travelling on buses operating within the WP will be required to keep their travel ticket with them at all times.

The Chairperson of the authority Gamini Jasinghe stated that from today, both the act of the passenger obtaining a ticket and the conductor issuing a ticket will be compulsory. Jasinghe said: “Once a passenger boards the bus, it is mandatory to provide them with a ticket containing the bus number, the starting and ending points of the journey, a serial number, and the fare amount. Furthermore, it is the passenger’s responsibility to obtain their ticket before passing the first stop. They must also keep the ticket in their possession until they reach their destination.” 

He noted that in cases where the conductor fails to issue a ticket, the authority will initiate legal action against them. If a passenger does not obtain a ticket, they will be fined Rs. 100 and additionally, double the fare of the journey may be charged, Jasinghe noted further.

Meanwhile, the temporary driver’s licence issued during the renewal process will now be provided by the National Transport Medical Institute in Nugegoda, effective from yesterday (30), the Department of Motor Traffic has announced. This will be implemented as a pilot project starting from yesterday. The department stated that if no changes are required to the existing driver’s licence during the renewal process, the temporary licence can be obtained directly from the institute. Furthermore, applicants for temporary licences are no longer required to visit the Werahera Motor Traffic Office.

Bus accidents

Elsewhere, 15 persons were injured in two separate bus accidents. Three individuals have sustained injuries in a road accident reported along the A9 road in the Mihintale-Palugaswewa area. The incident took place when a lorry collided with the rear of a private bus travelling from Kataragama to Jaffna. The injured individuals, all passengers on the bus, were admitted to the Mihintale Regional Hospital for treatment. At least 12 individuals have sustained injuries in an accident reported along the Kandy-Badulla main road in Randenigala on Monday evening (29), the Police stated. 

A private bus belonging to an apparel factory met with an accident between the 36th and 37th mileposts in Randenigala. The accident occurred due to a sudden mechanical failure of the bus, according to the Police. Twelve passengers on the bus sustained injuries and have been admitted to the District Hospital, Kandeketiya, for treatment.