Three-wheeler, bus fares remain unchanged, school van fares will be reduced

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

Even though the price of Lanka auto diesel and petrol has reduced, the three-wheelers and private buses have decided not to reduce their fares, but the school van operators have decided to reduce their charges.  

The National Joint Three-Wheeler Drivers and Industrial Workers Association said the three-wheeler fare reduction cannot be considered even after the recent petrol price revision. Association Secretary Rohana Perera said that reducing the Lanka Petrol 92 Octane price by Rs. 7 per litre would not affect taxi fares.  
A three-wheeler runs 25 kilometres per litre. With this Rs. 7 revision, the cost of a kilometre will be 28 cents. Therefore, the petrol price revision cannot be used to make a fare revision at this time.  

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman, Gemunu Wijeratne has decided not to reduce bus fares until the government implements the travel card system. He said the price of Lanka auto diesel had been reduced by Rs. 15.   

“Without implementing the travel card system, the benefits of the fuel price reduction will not go to the people.  

Meanwhile, All Island School Van Operators’ Association (AISVOA) Chairman Malsiri de Silva said today that they would reduce school van fares with the reduced fuel prices.  
He said that, considering the total reduction of diesel prices compared to previous times and yesterday, the school van monthly fare should be revised.  

However, the decision to revise the amount will be taken today after the committee meeting, Silva said.  

“We must grant the benefit of the recent fuel price reduction to the parents, as they are fed up with the current economic crisis,” he added.