The Ceylon Private Bus Owners’ Association (CPBOA) has postponed their proposed strike scheduled for tomorrow (21) following the police decision to ease the strict rule on the bus priority lane. The Association has sought a discussion with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the recent changes in the bus priority lane.
Following the police decision to permit motorcycles and three-wheelers to travel on the bus priority lane along with buses, CPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne criticised the move and threatened a continuous bus strike from Monday.
However, his Association has now called for a meeting with the President and other stakeholders before launching a strike.
“This decision was taken by the police. Therefore, we seek a meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and all stakeholders,” Wijeratne added. He said the government should encourage public transport instead of private vehicles during peak hours. Wijeratne has also proposed to ease traffic congestion.
“The Government can change school times to ease congestion in the morning. Heavy vehicles should not be permitted to ply on roads and some by roads can be made one-way during peak hours,” he said.
If the bus priority lane is abolished following the recent changes private bus owners would be forced to abandon the low-floor buses. “We are to invest billions of rupees on low-floor buses to facilitate bus priority lanes. If the designated lane doesn’t give priority for buses, there is no point in importing buses with such facilities,” he said.