![Gossip Lanka News [English]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYm2aFFq-bIW1nWX-RrqnPFoIsVos6_VCVz8BpLt0QJi55GNXHXC2fugeRvL0qUStEuCfs7Sfu6ZiSlhrkldxfGuE_wzy5gitY6rMZ2KSi8VBbGvkgXLks37RwZV-4-HKbWiNLRxB8C_r1e4z3mpxFTMPDJPEADoG8E-bZteWFipeD5KNGbjvCfqEfKw=s300 "Gossip Lanka News [English]")
6.30 p.m
The private bus strike is called off the with agreement with Government to increase bus fares.
Today evening the bus strike was called off after offering to increase bus fares. The fare for the first section has been allowed to be increased from Rs 7/- Rs 9/-.The overall fares have been raised by 20%., with the consent of the related authorities.
When the authorities of the government approved the increase of bus hikes immediately the strike was called off. The chairman of the Private bus Operators Association, Gemunu Wijeratna agreed to the offers made with pleasure and enormous happiness. It is learnt that the normal private bus would operate their fleet of buses as usually from tomorrow (14th).
The Minister had confessed that although the approval was given, he is not happy with the higher increased rates which would burden the commuters’. The new rates are to be charged by CTB too.
THE PRIVATE BUS STRIKE-DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS PLAY CRICKET AT THE BUS STAND PREMUSES IN FORT:
10.30 a.m
Owing to the sudden private bus strike launched the office workers were deprived of attending to their respective offices. Similarly many school children were unable to attend school.
Shown below are pictures and videos captured by “Sirasa” staff on the bus strike from places like Kandy, Matara and Hatton areas where commuters remain stranded and are staying patiently waiting in long queues to bound CTB buses.
8.50 a. m
It appears that no action has been initiated by the Minister of Transport C.B. Dissanayake in regard to the bus strike which commenced from mid night on Sunday. According to media reports the bus strike has been launched for personal benefits.
He had told that he had tried to bring the situation under control by providing more CTB buses and trains. It is reported that those who were against the strike had been attacked by throwing stones and other objects.
The strike has affected office workers as well as school children. The three wheelers have been benefited by the strike by not only getting continuous hires but also by charging higher fares. Those who usually do not use their private vehicles have also used them today and hence there was an unusual traffic jams on the roads.
It is learnt that commuters have gathered in large numbers at bus halts in order to get to their work places. In Matara and Galle some busses had started to ply. But they have forced to stop carrying passengers by protestors who had attacked the buses.Four persons found guilty had been caught and arrested.
7.10 a.m
PEOPLE ON THE ROADS WITHOUT BUSES
As informed by Gemunu Wijeratna yesterday the bus strike had commenced from midnight on Sunday. Thousands of commuters are helplessly stranded on the roads. According to latest reports the private bus strike had spread to all parts of the country.
Today a regular bus that leaves Matara to Colombo had not taken off. In Kandy no buses were seen in the good shed bus halt. The situation was same at the Anuradhapura bus halt. At Galle and Kurunegala it was the same situation. Although CTB buses had run ,they were insufficient to cater to the needs of so much of commuters.
EARLIER REPORT
Sunday 6.30 p.m.
Increase of diesel prices, are too high:
From tonight there will be no private buses.
The private buses island wide will not ply on the roads from mid night on Sunday. From mid night on Saturday, the prices of a litre of diesel were raised to an unbelievable sum of Rs 31/-It was reported reliably by Gemunu Wijeratna, the Chairman of the Private Bus Operators Association in Sri Lanka. He had revealed owing to this massive price hike in the diesel prices they would not be in a position to run their fleet of private buses.
This exorbitant price hike cannot be borne by the owners of private buses .Hence this unanimous decision had to be taken. He had told that a concession for purchase of diesel is yet to be implemented. Consequent to this price hike if the owners operate their buses, will have to incur severe losses.
The strike is only by the “Lanka Private Bus Association’. However the other ‘All island Bus Association’ buses and the buses of the CTB would not take part in the strike. Monday the 13th is the first working day for office workers and there is definitely going to be a terrific scramble for them to go to office and during their return journey from offices in the late afternoon.