The Airport-Fort Bus Employees Union has launched a protest today against the luxury airport bus service launched from the Katunayake Airport to several prominent areas in Colombo.
President of the Union, Indika Gunasekara pointed out that it was not possible to give appointments for new jobs during a period when a presidential election has been announced and the same applies to new buses as well.
Stating that there were 71 buses registered under its union, Indika Gunasekara revealed that 42 of the buses don’t operate daily and that a registered bus operates only 10 days a month.
Indika Gunasekara said that even though their Union had launched an airport bus service previously, it had to be suspended due to security reasons and due to political influences.
Claiming that the chairman of the Western Province Transport Authority has pointed out that there is no need for these buses, Indika Gunasekara alleged that the Ministry of Transport and Highways and the National Transport Commission have launched the new bus service.
The Airport-Fort Bus Employees Union President further said that if there was a real need then the 42 buses currently registered under the Union, which do not operate daily, can be utilized for the new bus service.
Indika Gunasekara added that the bus service provided by his Union charges only Rs. 300 per passenger for one journey, while the new luxury airport bus service charges Rs. 3000 per passenger.
The new luxury airport bus service was launched yesterday connecting the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake with Port City, Fort Railway Station, Colombo Main Bus Stop and the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre.
The luxury bus service will commence from the Katunayake Airport and ply along the Colombo – Katunayake Highway without any stops, to the destinations in Colombo. Ten (10) buses have been allocated for the new airport bus service and will cost Rs. 3000 per passenger for a one-way journey. (Newswire)
