Private bus operators in Sri Lanka's Western Province to stop running buses from midnight today

Sri Lanka's private bus operators have decided to keep their buses off the road from midnight today (26).


The move is to protest against the Western Province Transport Authority's decision to increase the charges of route licenses and other charges.
Private Bus Operators Association (PBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne said the Association had asked the Transport Authority not to increase these charges but had not received a favorable reply yet.
The PBOA has therefore decided to launch a strike in the Western Province from midnight today.
According to Wijeratne, the increase in route licenses and other charges would force the bus operators to increase bus fares as well.
Private buses are the major passenger transport service of Sri Lanka.