Sri Lanka Pvt bus Associations to strike, says can’t accept 6.5-pct fare hike

May 16, 2018 (LBO) - The Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) and Inter-Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA) said it cannot accept the Cabinet approved bus fare increase and that it would launch an islandwide bus strike from by midnight Wednesday. The two association said that the 6.56 percent bus fare increment was not acceptable and are demanding to increase the bus fares a minimum of 15 percent. They also seek the amending of the minimum bus fare to 15.00 rupees, from the current 10 rupees. Last week the island increased diesel prices by 14 rupees to 109 rupees a litre. The Finance ministry said that fuel accounts for 30 percent of the pricing formula when calculating bus fares.