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Private bus owners warn of islandwide strike if Ministry does not respond by Wednesday
The Inter-Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA) announced plans to launch an island-wide bus strike if a discussion with Transport Ministry officials does not take place today to address several issues.
IPPBA President Sarath Vijitha Kumara told the Daily Mirror that the association disagrees with the government's decision to deploy plainclothes police officers to identify public transport buses violating road rules.
He stated that the police are exerting undue pressure on the private bus service by conducting special operations to inspect passenger buses. While these operations aim to ensure passenger safety, many accidents are reportedly caused by private buses.
He further criticised the lack of proper infrastructure, stating that road traffic violations are common due to the absence of a proper road system. Additionally, no facilities have been assigned for bus parking, and there are no sanitary facilities or restrooms for drivers.
“We need a discussion with Transport Ministry officials before this Wednesday,” he said.
Comments - 57
Comments - Private bus owners warn of islandwide strike if Ministry does not respond by Wednesday
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Jerome Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:07 PM
Mad idiots, should cancel their route permitts. they want to do what they want putting other life at risk.
1 113
ANVR Wednesday, 08 January 2025 07:53 AM
THE SOLUTION IS PUBLIC TRANCPORT BUSS CONTROL BY MUNICIPAL AND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. IN ABROAD CONTROL BY LOCAL GOVT.
1 7
june macapagal Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:13 PM
The radios in all private buses should be removed because it is a big headache for the passengers, specially during peak times when the buses are packed and it is like a massage parlour where people get a massaage free of charge by these private buses. on the other hand the conductors are very rude towards the passegers and sometimes they scold in filth which is not done in any other country.
0 100
Roshanaly Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:18 PM
Go ahead with your plan, do not give in to this Mafias. What does the lack of proper infrastructure has to with the traffic violation??
1 89
Bandara gamage Wednesday, 08 January 2025 12:43 PM
Yes, just we ask to them go ahead with there plan. Most of bus owners who has to pay the leasing and they have to operate the bus service. At the same time government and the authorities but be sure the provide the better and quality service to the nation. Therefore it's time to NPP government show the their colors.
1 2
fact Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:21 PM
Get rid of this mafia and standardise this service with private companies ,so they may import good quality low bed busses instead unsafe lorries from India used by these mafia. Also standardise government bus services with quality , comfortable busses
1 86
Mike Jeya Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:30 PM
Nationalize the private bus services and bring back SLTB as a public service with well trained bus drivers and good buses. Do not cave in to the Private Bus Mafia
7 84
Gamini Wednesday, 08 January 2025 09:12 AM
so that the tax payers continue to be burdened
8 3
Romesh Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:33 PM
Let them strike. Take over the buses and run it under the CTB. There is no excuses for indiscipline. These idiots need to be brought under control. They give spurious excuses to justify their crazy driving
2 79
Goonda Saliya Wednesday, 08 January 2025 01:18 AM
The CTB was created by nationalising the private buses.Nationalise the buses that go on strike.The owners will have to wait till2100 to get their compensation.Offer the private bus drivers employment and the owners will find themselves runni9ng to the toilet 5 time in an hour.
0 7
rohan Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:37 PM
If you'll are following correct procedures why are you scared to face plain clothes police inside the bus. i have my own experience that some private busses stops at bus halts and spending more waiting time to collect passengers and also not issuing tickets and also unbearable radio sounds. i am with government side on this matter. let them strike, they will be in trouble when they cannot pay there monthly loan fees to bank.
1 76
rohan2 Wednesday, 08 January 2025 06:45 AM
Well commented rohan. 154 bus route typical example.
0 7
asoka Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:39 PM
If they try to hold the govt. disciplinary action to ransom, cancel their licenses and confiscate the buses
1 65
Damith Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:40 PM
What do these guys mean by "due to lack of proper road system"
1 48
Rakitha W Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:50 PM
NPP has a golden opportunity to use the mandate given to it by the people of the country. Whatever obstacles come your way, do not give into unreasonable demands by the bus operators. Remove all the unnecessary fixtures along with loud speakers inside these vehicles, and make a training on customer service mandatory for both bus owners and their employees. The whole country is with you.
2 105
roobarbie Tuesday, 07 January 2025 04:58 PM
So private bus owners prefer deaths on the road. What a group of wretched businessmen. No wonder Sri Lanka has no hope of developing itself with such crooks in our society. Arrogance, ego and already know-it-all mindset; they cannot be disciplined. Sadly a national trait!
2 56
Mizaru Tuesday, 07 January 2025 05:01 PM
What set of clowns including the media that publish such stupid statements. The private bus operators had a field day taking the rules to their hands. Now they complain when the existing rules are being enforced. This crackdown needs to go on until sanity is on Sri Lanka roads.
0 45
THE GOVT SHOULD PUT ALL PUBLIC SERVICE TRANSPORT ON EMERGENCIES SERVICES AND SEE IF THIS THUG AND THE VEHICLE OWNERS AND OR DRIVERS WILL STRIKE. IF THEY DARE TO DO SO, CANCEL THE LICENCES OF THE OWNER Tuesday, 07 January 2025 05:03 PM
HA!HA!HA! IPPBA PRESIDENT, SO YOU ARE IN FACT DIRECTLY LETTING THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES THRIVED UNDER THE LAST CORRUPT GOVT, WITH NOT RULES BEING FOLLOWED AND NO FINES EITHER!!. THIS PRESIDENT SOUNDS LIKE A THUG AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HOLD THE GOVT TO RANSOM.
2 28
Raj Tuesday, 07 January 2025 05:03 PM
Cancel the Route Permits and Repossess buses for repeated for breach of safety regulations. These drivers drive like they carry some animals as passengers. May be they expect prior warnings before any inspection so they can be ready!
1 38
Ben Tuesday, 07 January 2025 05:21 PM
Obviously because yall don't adhere to road rules resulting to more severe accidents. Simple solution, Private bus association wants to go on stike OKAY, get the Military personnel to operate the bus.
1 37
Patriot Tuesday, 07 January 2025 05:23 PM
This is the only country in the world where wrong doers says I will continue to violate the rules but if you catch I will strike. The government must stand firm and cancel all route permits and issue new permits to other new bus owners. AKD
0 42
Dr Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 07 January 2025 05:28 PM
The solution will be to cancel their permits , nationslize the bus service. Bus service should be run as public private ownership companies. CTB should be developed as such. The road infrastructure is very good in Sri Lanka, the private busses are violating every traffic rule and in the process they kill, injure passengers and bystanders. Can we allow these monsters anymore? No more. NPP government has the power to do so. They came into power to make public transport better. So keep the promise. If private owners try to play games, nationalize the bus service.
2 36
Sokrates Tuesday, 07 January 2025 06:01 PM
There is no need for discussion. A government can never agree to bus drivers flouting traffic regulations and putting the lives of the passengers entrusted to them in danger. Let them go on strike. Their families will send them back to work after a few days when the children start to go hungry. In addition, the police should not forget to subject bus drivers to drug tests.
0 37
A. Perera Tuesday, 07 January 2025 06:30 PM
Government: Please stand up to these goons, approve an Emergency Act, or use what is available to get the Army involved in running these private busses until they come to their senses. Alternatively, take over all the busses to SLTB! These guys cannot play around with the people's liberties like this. It is time to RISE UP!
1 28
A Concerned Citizen Tuesday, 07 January 2025 06:33 PM
The Government must deal with Private Bus Mafia strongly without allowing them to dictate terms.
0 31
Rip Winkle Tuesday, 07 January 2025 06:35 PM
The new police actions taken to curb accidents, especially the deployment of cops in civvies in private busses is the best thing ever. Please do not give in to these hooligans who have literally got away with murder until now. Yes, if the private bus operates do carry out a strike in protest, the public might be inconvenienced but the lives saved will be worth it. And for how long will the bus operators strike before financial hardships force them back to work?
0 32
sachith Tuesday, 07 January 2025 07:03 PM
"deploy plainclothes police officers to identify public transport buses violating road rules" what sort of request is this? If government accepts this and stop such regular checks, then its the first major violation against 68lak people's hope on this gov.
0 27
M Fernando Tuesday, 07 January 2025 07:09 PM
Strange twist on the reason for bus accidents being caused by bad roads !! Reminds me of Sinhala saying about the man who cannot dance.. Let them go on strike since it is their right. Withdraw their route licenses if they are unable to pass the vehicle examination. Meanwhile try put more CTB buses online. Cannot allow private sector to hold the country to ransom like this. Especially this sector which has become a law unto itself.
0 23
Perera Tuesday, 07 January 2025 07:09 PM
These indisciplined law breaking rascals are a law unto themselves. Its time they were kept in check with some decorum when plying on the roads. If any buses are involved in the strike they should be taken over by the government and run. Under no circumstances should the government bow down to these scum.
0 23
Ruwan Tuesday, 07 January 2025 07:12 PM
Hope the government will not back down on this unfair demand!
0 24
Unacceptable Tuesday, 07 January 2025 07:21 PM
The excuses given has nothing to do with irresponsible conduct, unruly driving and rest of the violations. Don't give these excuses to continue your merry ways.
0 19
Unacceptable Tuesday, 07 January 2025 07:21 PM
The excuses given has nothing to do with irresponsible conduct, unruly driving and rest of the violations. Don't give these excuses to continue your merry ways.
0 16
Wiseman Tuesday, 07 January 2025 07:36 PM
Do not allow the private bus mafia to have their way. They must abide by the law. They can't have exceptions to break the law at will.
0 18
Gx Tuesday, 07 January 2025 08:02 PM
Verify intelligent move by the Government to track these reckless drivers who put the innocent commuter life in their hands. When a passenger in the bus, says something about their reckless driving... he is abused. Let them go on strike, they are loosing...
0 19
Michael Tuesday, 07 January 2025 08:07 PM
"road traffic violations are common due to the absence of a proper road system." If buses are to be allowed to violate road rules, then police would have to allow traffic violations by other drivers too.
0 18
Allow Foreign Bus Operators Into The Network Tuesday, 07 January 2025 08:35 PM
Get in a few foreign bus operators to join in the existing network. They can have a joint venture with a local private company or with the government. Make them pay for the initial investments and have them some lucrative routes providing “real modern buses”. These current private bus operators are behaving recklessly and like “gangsters”. If only there are alternatives for the public, these private bus operators would go bust in a matter of time!
3 14
KEEP FOREIGH COMPANIES OUT OF OUR BU SERVICE, PLEASE. Tuesday, 07 January 2025 10:52 PM
NOT A GOOD IDEA, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. LET US GET A PRIVATE COMOANY IN OUR COUNTRY TO JOIN TOGETHER WITH THE GOVT. NO NEED TO GET FOREIGN BUS OPERATORS, WHAT NEXT???
5 8
Government Will Lay Out Conditions Tuesday, 07 January 2025 11:24 PM
The initial capital to set up a fleet of buses is huge! Don’t think any private company in SL has that kind of money and expertise to run it in a proper manner. A few Asian countries have foreign companies running their bus routes already. The government will set the conditions and price standards for them to follow. They are given a time frame to run this business venture and will be a win win situation in the long run.
0 4
Citizen silva Tuesday, 07 January 2025 08:38 PM
No one is above the law, in an in disciplined society like ours, motorists are so recklessly specially private buses this type of change is difficult to accept. As Lee Kwan Yu did to the Singaporean pilots hope AKD will do what is best for the country.
0 17
joshua Tuesday, 07 January 2025 08:54 PM
The private bus drivers should be dealt with severely for the devilish driving. Do not give it to these morons.
0 18
dinesh Tuesday, 07 January 2025 09:14 PM
only with the new government they suddenly remember about toilets??? last 20 years they were ok without toilet facilities..
1 17
Nimmi Perera Tuesday, 07 January 2025 09:17 PM
Be brave NPP Government. Do not listen to these thugs. As a senior citizen I have travelled in both CTB and private busses recently. Everyday I get a scoulding from bus driver/conductor to get down from the fast. If I get down slow, both bus driver/conductor scolds us. Another issue that conductors are blocking Exit door make it difficulty to passengers to exit. Hopeless Sri Lanka and we will never improve with these bad boys.
0 15
wsw Wednesday, 08 January 2025 03:52 AM
Nimmi Perera, calling them 'bad boys" is too dignified, I would refer to them as "ill-disciplined scoundrels".
0 6
R Guanarathna Tuesday, 07 January 2025 10:45 PM
the government must stand firm with the police. The bus owners and their drivers have made most of the roads death traps for the others who use the roads. special mention must be made of the busses in the southern highway. most of them exceed the speed limit even when there is rain. They tailgate the other vehicles, drive on the right side lane most of the time, use the headlights and multiple other lights in the front of the busses trying to intimidate other drivers. unless proper action is taken there is a disaster round the corner very soon
0 14
Ravi K Wednesday, 08 January 2025 12:46 AM
Good opportunity to cancel the permits- already highlighted by world YouTubers as dangerous to use these buses. Most drivers and conductors are very often under the influence of drugs
0 5
Ylg Wednesday, 08 January 2025 03:00 AM
Buses must be disciplined
0 6
wsw Wednesday, 08 January 2025 04:02 AM
Question to previous governments who pretend to practice righteousness, why did you all conveniently turn a blind eye to all these indiscretions committed by this bus mafia network, who held the public to ransom for such a long period? I guess we know the answer already. Thank heavens, we now finally seem to have a government focussed on enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, not denigrate like the pathetic mobs of the past.
0 6
John Fernando Wednesday, 08 January 2025 04:59 AM
Enough is enough, entire island should support this crucial plain cloth sudden inspection, far too many innocent lives lost by this arrogant private and CTB bus operators. NPP gov should not back off from important safety procedures if anyone violates then severe punishment for playing with lives.
0 6
Darcy Wednesday, 08 January 2025 06:35 AM
Having plain cloths officers or not is a matter with the police what is the point of the bus drivers to strike.. Doing so they are evidently stating they do wrong and keep on doing wrong on the roads
0 6
wickrama Wijayasiri Wednesday, 08 January 2025 07:29 AM
The answer is simple: nationalize, take over the roadworthy buses which comply with the safety regulations. Cancel licenses of all other 'buses'. New and trained drivers should be recruited for SLTB leaving the other so called 'Bus Divers' to find work as labourers. Plain clothed inspectors is a good idea.
0 6
mnsmart Wednesday, 08 January 2025 08:51 AM
Acid test for the government. Don't bow down to those who wants permission to violate road rules.
0 8
Adwani Wednesday, 08 January 2025 11:16 AM
Their strike will cause inconveniences to poor and the aged. Bus is a common man's Transport and Government must co-operate with Private Bus Operators. No one understand their difficulties, certainly they do have their own mistakes, similarly public too play games with them by cheating them in fares, drug addicts and hooligans boarding the buses without paying the proper fares.
2 0
Bernard Rozarius Wednesday, 08 January 2025 01:47 PM
I wonder whether you are living in SL. Strive through lawful means
0 1
Adwani Wednesday, 08 January 2025 02:50 PM
@Bernard Rozarius - Laws are enacted for all not only for the Private Bus Operators. Public too should abide by the Law including the Police who depends on somethings from them.
0 0
Praboth Samarasinghe Wednesday, 08 January 2025 11:54 AM
Bus drivers follow ' Survival of the fittestt " Theory ! I've travelled the world
0 1
navaratna bandara willamune Wednesday, 08 January 2025 12:26 PM
government should revitalize the SLTB. long distance buses need some comforts, AC, leg space etc.
0 1
Travis Wednesday, 08 January 2025 02:13 PM
That means they can break the law. Let them strike cancel all route permits. In other countries this crap is not allowed. So sri lankan most people don't want a change hahah
0 1
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