Bus fare increased by 12.5 percent

The Cabinet granted approval to increase bus fares by 12.5 per cent.The minimum fare will be increased to Rs 12.

Transport and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Ashoka Abeysinghe told the Daily News that the new fares were effective from midnight yesterday (22).

The proposal to increase bus fares by 12.5 per cent was presented to the Cabinet yesterday. All Island Private Bus Union Federation President Stanley Fernando earlier warned that if the Cabinet failed to approve the 12.5 per cent increase, the federation would launch a strike. However, following discussions with Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva on May 16, the bus union and the minister agreed to this bus fare revision and the scheduled strike was called off.