Several trade unions affiliated with the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) commenced trade union action from midnight yesterday (27), raising concerns over a new unified timetable and three additional demands.
Niroshan Sampath Premaratne, Chairman of the SLTB’s Samagi Sewaka Sangamaya, said the strike was primarily in response to the National Transport Commission’s (NTC) decision to introduce a common bus timetable for both SLTB and private operators.
He noted that the move could have adverse operational and financial impacts on state-run services.
Meanwhile, Lanka Private Bus Association Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said that the unified timetable was fraught with issues and lacked practical feasibility.
However, NTC Chairman Eng. P.A. Chandrapala defended the decision, saying the revised timetable was the result of consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
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