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Mobs attack 128 buses, 30 injured, soldier critical: Govt. backtracks in face of strike threat
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
A day-long strike on Friday by private bus operators crippled services and forced the Government to re-think imposition of enhanced traffic fines.
The state owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), which had increased its operational fleet, was unable to cope with the passenger demand. Protestors badly damaged 128 of its buses. Stone throwing incidents left more than 30 people injured, one of them a soldier returning home from an Army base in the north.
The strike was called off only after President Maithripala Sirisena invited union representatives for talks. The unions demanded that fines should not be increased for overtaking from the left and speeding.
President Sirisena, who assured union representatives that the increases would not be “hastily implemented”, set up an official committee. It will not only examine representations over increased fines but also other grievances of the private bus operators.
The Committee comprises Transport Ministry Secretary Nihal Somaweera, Finance Ministry Secretary R.H.S. Samaratunga, Senior Deputy Inspector General Nandana Munasinghe, representatives of the Attorney General’s Department, the Department of Motor Traffic and a representative of the Presidential Secretariat. Police said organised gangs attacked state-owned buses that were running loaded to capacity.
The most serious of the injured was a soldier returning home on leave when his bus came under a stone attack in Ikirigollewa, between Medawachchiya and Rambewa The soldier, Shantha Sumanaratna from Nawalapitiya, underwent urgent surgery at the Anuradhapura hospital. He is being treated at the Neurological Incentive Care Unit.
The hospital’s Deupty Director Ayanthi Karunaratna said the soldier’s condition was serious. As many as 23 SLTB employees, most of them drivers, and seven passengers were hospitalised in various parts of the country.
SLTB Chairman Ramal Siriwardena said most of the buses came under attack on Friday night with 128 being damaged. Windscreens and lights were broken.
Mr. Siriwardena said Transport Minister Nimal Siripala had asked for the report on the estimated cost of the damage caused to the buses so that funds could be obtained for repairs.
He said injured drivers and conductors would be given paid leave and risk allowance. On a positive note, the chairman pointed out the SLTB’s revenue on Friday had increased from Rs. 70 million to Rs. 120 million.
Meanwhile, police said they were trying to identify the mobs which attacked the public buses and already received information about some suspects.