The Inter-Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA), the All Island School Van Operators Association (AISVOA), and the All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Union (AITWDU) are planning to raise fares in January due to the introduction of a new 18% value-added tax (VAT).

IPPBA Secretary Anjana Priyanjith said after imposing the new VAT, the diesel price would increase by Rs. 50, and therefore the minimum bus fare should also be increased.

However, they hope to increase the minimum bus fare to Rs. 36 while increasing the remaining rates according to the percentage.

The minimum bus fare is Rs. 30 as of March 31, 2023.

Meanwhile, AISVOA chairman Malsiri de Silva told the Daily Mirror that they have not come to a conclusion about the charges that need to be increased.

“We know that increasing the school van fee is a huge burden to the parents, but in the current situation, we also cannot do anything to reduce the school van fare,” he told the media.

Moreover, AITWDU president Lalith Dharmasekera told the Daily Mirror that there is a possibility of petrol prices increasing by more than Rs. 50 from January, and if that happens, the charges for the first kilometre would increase according to the fuel price.

“We did not take any measures to revise fares on previous occasions where the government had increased petrol prices. But this time, we cannot remain so. We have to increase the fares according to the price increases,” he told the media.