Fines on illegal bus operators increased

The Government has increased the fine on buses operating without a valid route permit. 

Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva presented the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill yesterday in Parliament, giving effect to this revision. The new fine will be Rs. 200,000, which was Rs. 10,000 before.

“The increased fine will be levied only on inter-provincial buses coming under the preview of the National Transport Commission. There are 3,219 permits in total including the 459 semi-luxury permits, 603 luxury permits and 94 super-luxury permits issued for long distance buses,” he said while assuring Parliament that a new set of criteria in issuing a long distance route permit was now in place.

According to the Minister certain routes were still under the control of private bus owners who are not willing to allow a single Government bus to operate on the same route. “The private bus owners are not allowing a single Government bus to operate on the 103 Narahenpita-Fort route,” he said, while highlighting the continued issuance of Treasury bills worth Rs. 1.3 billion on a monthly basis to cover the expenses of the Government transport services. (AH)