• SLR is in the process of preparing a train fare formula right now and would impose new train fares after the cabinet approval

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The government has decided to increase train fares shortly to cover only the cost of fuel and not to earn a profit, Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama said yesterday.   
 Addressing the weekly post cabinet news briefing last morning he noted that the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) runs at a massive loss in addition to a huge debt to the CEYPETCO.   
“You all must understand that the SLR cannot provide an efficient service to the public while incurring an unbearable loss like this and a liability to the Treasury. Therefore, the SLR will have to increase train fares though reluctantly, sooner than later at least to minimise the losses. My target is to bring the SLR to a break-even level,” Minister Amunugama added.   
Commenting on the cabinet decision to increase bus fares from yesterday, Minister Amunugama said the decision to increase the minimum bus fare by Rs. 3.00 was taken after consulting all private bus companies. The minimum bus fare increase at Rs. 3 and the maximum increase at Rs. 1,498 was the final agreement between the Transport Ministry and private bus operators.   

The SLR is in the process of preparing a train fare formula right now and would impose new train fares after the cabinet approval.   

Responding to a journalist, Minister Amunugama said the SLTB will have to reconsider the running of buses at unprofitable routes solely considering the fuel price.   

However, the SLTB will operate early morning and late night services and school bus services uninterrupted.   

The Transport Ministry is also contemplating to import buses to operate without conductors as there is a huge shortage of bus conductors. The SLTB will import 500 buses soon, he added.