COLOMBO (News 1st) – Cabinet approval has been granted to increase bus fares by 12.5%.

Deputy Minister of Transport, Ashok Abeysinghe, said the minimum bus fare has been increased to Rs. 12.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the increase under the condition that bus fares cannot be increased for the next two years. Last week the Cabinet of Ministers decided to increased bus fares by around 6%, however, the bus operators and owners opposed this move and threatened to strike

The Government eventually caved into the pressure from the bus operators and agreed to increase bus fares by 12.5% after presenting a new proposal to cabinet. When News1st asked Deputy Minister Ashok Abeysinghe to explain how the Government reached the 12.5% value, the minister said no scientific process was followed adding that the decision was taken in order to stop the strike