Jan 31, Colombo: Private bus owners in Sri Lanka have said they will take measures from February 1st not to allow beggars and hawkers inside buses.

Head of the Private Bus Owners' Association (PBOA), Gemunu Wijerathna has said that begging, selling goods and conducting lectures inside buses were illegal under the Motor Traffic Act of 1951.

However, he has told the media that the police have not implemented this law.

He has added that the PBOA has sent a letter to Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa with a copy to Private Transport Minister C.B. Ratnayake seeking assistance to stop the beggars and hawkers from harassing the passengers inside the buses.

According to Wijerathna, many commuters have complained of the inconveniences caused to them due to begging and businesses carried out inside buses.