Jan 04, Galle: Private bus owners in the Southern Province are rejecting the new bus fares that should go into effect next Tuesday.

Chandana Zoysa, Chairman of the Southern Province Private Bus Owners’ Association, said they have taken this decision as their other expenses remain unchanged and the reduction in the price of diesel is not enough to reduce fares.

If the government will granted a subsidy for other expenses such as tires and batteries, we are ready to revise the bus fares, he added.

Meanwhile, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association said this evening that their discussions on revising the bus fares concluded without a final decision.

Following the diesel price reduction last week, the National Transport Commission decided to reduce the bus fares by 4.3% with effect from next Tuesday.