The National Transport Commission (NTC) today rejected charges that they
issued route permits illegally and stated that allegations leveled
against the NTC by private bus owners were meaningless.
NTC Chairman, Sashi Welgama said that the Private Bus Owners
Association’s decision to strike, take legal action against the NTC and
its decision to make a complaint to the United Nations on Government
corruption in Sri Lanka are baseless.
“We have not given any bus permits without adhering to the tender
procedure or receiving Cabinet approval. I do not know how the
Association will go to the UN or on what grounds that they intend to
take legal action against us as we have not issued permits illegally,”
Welgama said.
He said generally buses are called to the Monitoring Unit of the NTC
where they are subjected to close inspection. He said that if the buses
meet the requirements, permits are given accordingly. He said that
permits would not be issued to others.
Meanwhile, the Private Bus Owners Association recently vowed to go on
strike in the Northern Province, to take legal action and make a
complaint to the United Nations for the issue of illegal bus permits.
The Association’s President, Gemunu Wijeyratne said that in August 2010
cabinet approved the issuing of 106 route permits for buses to run the
Colombo-Jaffna route of which only 40 were genuine. He said 30 of these
permits were given to a number of people who do not have buses.
He said there are another 54 bus permits that have been issued to bus
owners in Badulla, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Tangalle and some other
areas and requested the authorities to put a stop to it. He said that
Private Transport Services Minister, C. B. Ratnayake should address the
problem.
“If the Minister does not address the problem in a week’s time we will
go ahead with the strike, the court proceedings and complaints. The
world should know the corrupt behaviour of members of our Government,”
Wijeyratne said.
Sourse: http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/9971-route-permits-issued-accordingly.html
Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 @ 02:29:03 LKT
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