Horana Colombo 120 bus strike continues

Discussions held to resolve the bus strike, which began on the 2nd of this month against the issuance of route permits for two new buses to operate from Horana via the Kahathuduwa expressway entrance to Pettah on route number 120, have failed. A special discussion was held at the Battaramulla office with the Chairman of the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority with the aim of ending this strike, which was launched by luxury and ordinary service private bus owners operating between Horana and Colombo.Bus union representatives stated that although over forty drivers and conductors of the striking buses participated in the discussion, they were unable to reach a positive agreement.

With the breakdown of discussions, the strike continued for the third consecutive day yesterday, leading to a collapse in public transport services and severe inconvenience for passengers. Although steps were taken to deploy CTB buses for the convenience of commuters, it was insufficient for the large number of passengers traveling to offices and workplaces in the morning, further exacerbating the problem. The officer-in-charge at the Horana bus stand confirmed that over 300 buses were paralyzed there because, in addition to the buses on the main route, buses operating on feeder roads starting from Horana also withdrew from service since the day before yesterday in support of the strike.

Bus owners point out that the main reason for this trade union action is the addition of two new buses via the expressway entrance, in a context where 32 luxury buses and 54 ordinary private buses are currently operating on this route, and arrangements have been made to grant permission for six more buses through tenders on the upcoming 28th. However, clarifying the matter, Mr. Gamini Jasinghe, Chairman of the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority, stated that it is the government's responsibility to provide facilities to the public, and passengers have the right to decide which bus they travel on.

The Chairman strongly emphasized that he is not at all prepared to withdraw the two new buses, as passengers are currently traveling standing even in the luxury buses already in operation, and he will not back down from this decision even an inch. He further stated that the striking parties have been informed to submit their proposals, and that he has no intention of adding six new buses to service, as alleged by the trade unions, or any similar idea.