News

Seat-only rule for buses withdrawn

Published

5 months ago

January 6, 2023

editor

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the law on transporting passengers according to the number of seats will be removed from today (06) and the Transport Minister will be informed of this decision in writing.

In view of the rapid spread of Covid-19 pandemic, the Director General of Health Services imposed a law to limit passengers to the number of bus seats. This resulted in a 20 per cent increase in bus fares.

However, at the end of the pandemic, only 10 per cent of the increased percentage was reduced.

Today, the said law is not in force and the National Transport Commission (NTC) has requested the Director General of Health Services on many occasions to reduce the 10 per cent increase.

Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana has told Health Minister Rambukwella yesterday that the price of diesel has decreased by 15 rupees recently and by 10 rupees earlier.

In total, this amount is a 3.8 per cent of a reduction and in order to reduce bus fares, there should be a decrease of at least 4 per cent.

Therefore, the Transport Minister has further said that there is a possibility of reducing bus fares if the Health Ministry withdraws the law on limiting passengers to the number of bus seats.

If the total percentage of 13.8 is reduced in this manner, the current minimum bus fare of 34 rupees can be reduced by five rupees and other fares will also be reduced similarly, the NTC said.

The NTC said steps would be taken to provide the concession of the bus fare reduction to the passengers as soon as it was officially notified that the law has been removed.

(Aruna)

News

Have inquiry how you can have better country not on me missing my flight – Venerable Ajahn (Video)

Published

6 hours ago

June 4, 2023

editor

Venerable Ajahn Brahmawanso Thera, who was held back at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for 12 hours, said instead of having an inquiry about how he missed the flight, authorities should have an inquiry on how Sri Lanka can have a better country with more forgiveness.

“I learnt that the President has initiated an inquiry about how I missed my flight. Someone made a little mistake. It is not a big deal. So please instead of having an inquiry about how I missed my flight, instead have an inquiry how you can have a better country with more forgiveness. Allow people to make mistakes because one thing which I’ve noticed when you allow people to make a mistake, they’re not afraid of making mistakes. They make less mistakes,” the Thera said in a video.

The Thera said he never knew the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka was at the lounge that evening.

“I am a well-known monk. So, you go in the VIP lounge. I never knew the prime minister of Sri Lanka at the lounge that evening. He was going off to some big event over in Bangkok. Everything was orderly and plenty of time to wait for the flight. When it came to the boarding time, I asked if we are boarding soon. They said don’t worry, everything is on schedule. By the time they took me to the gate, that is when I saw the boarding bridge was moving away from the aircraft. The plane took off. I missed my flight. Nothing to do with anything which I was doing. I just got taken out only seen the lounge. Supposed to be VIP is supposed to look after VIPs please never become a VIP. You tend to lose your board. If I had just walked out by myself no problem, but you can’t exist soldiers outside,” he said.

(dailymirror.lk)

News

31 Jaffna University students suspended over a brawl

Published

6 hours ago

June 4, 2023

editor

A total of 31 students of the University of Jaffna have been suspended with immediate effect.

The 31 students of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce have been suspended following a brawl between second-year and third-year students on Friday.

Following preliminary investigations, 16 second-year students and 15 third-year students have been banned from entering the University premises until further notice.

They will also not be allowed to enter or remain inside University hostels.