Twenty three SLTB employees, eight passengers injured due to pelting of stones at buses
Record income by SLTB
Police arrested over 20 persons who pelted stones at buses, blocked roads and obstructed the free flow of traffic during Friday’s private bus strike.
Nineteen persons, arrested on charges of unlawful assembly in Negombo, were remanded until December 9 by the Negombo Magistrate. Police on Friday had to remove containers placed across the Negombo - Colombo main road by the protesters.
Meanwhile, Ahangama Police arrested three suspects on charges of throwing stones at a train and a trishaw where a railway security officer and a child were injured, among others.
Arrests were also made in Maradana, Tangalle, Vavuniya and Wattegama.
“Twenty three Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) employees and eight passengers were injured and hospitalised last Friday due to the pelting of stones at buses. A soldier on holiday, who was critically injured, due to pelting of stones at the bus he was travelling in is still lying unconscious at the Anuradhapura hospital,” SLTB chairman Ramal Siriwardane said.
According to Siriwardene, a total of 128 SLTB buses were damaged by the stone-throwing.
“We are still assessing the damage to SLTB buses. We cannot yet give a number since some of the attacked SLTB buses are still kept at police stations where the complaints were lodged,” he added.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has appealed for all available medical attention to the injured SLTB staff and the passengers.
The SLTB had taken measures to deploy an additional 1,000 buses supported by the operation of extra trains on Friday. Most employees were either on leave or allowed to leave office earlier than usual on the day of the strike.
The SLTB chairman said Minister de Silva has already obtained Cabinet approval to import 250 small buses and 1,000 two-door buses by next year for the SLTB.
“When we acquire these new buses we will be able to provide a better service to the public in times of need,” he added.
Siriwardene said SLTB earned a record income on Friday due to the increase in the volume of passengers as well as additional buses on the roads.
“We recorded a Rs. 120 million income on the day of the strike. The normal income per day of the SLTB is Rs. 72 million. This is a 66 percent increase. The SLTB on Saturday recorded a Rs. 99 million income which on a normal Saturday is Rs. 68 million. We recorded a 45 percent increase in the income for SLTB on Saturday. There are some long-distance buses that are yet to reach their destinations, so that the over all income may be higher,” the SLTB chairman said.
The strike called by several organisations representing bus and trishaw owners was against the increase in spot fines to Rs. 2,500 and a Rs. 25, 000 fine against specific traffic offences.
Meanwhile, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a six-member committee to look into revision of traffic fines following a meeting with representatives of private bus unions at the President’s office on Saturday. The committee comprises Transport Ministry Secretary Nihal Somaweera, Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, Senior DIG (Traffic), Administration and Road Safety Nandana Munasinghe along with several other officials.