The Sunday TimesNews/Comment

07th July 1996

| BUSINESS

| HOME PAGE | FRONT PAGE | EDITORIAL/OPINION | PLUS | TIMESPORTS

LSSP calls for urgent reorganization of public bus services

The LSSP has called for an urgent reorganization of public bus services, saying the recent fare hike without an improvement in services, has only heaped, more burdens on a suffering people.

In a statement analyzing the root causes of the ills in the public bus service and suggesting practical remedial measures, the LSSP said.

It is a fact that the public transport system is very unsatisfactory and that travelers are suffering as a result. In particular buses are not adequately available outside peak hours and even when they are available they are overcrowded. It is therefore, unfortunate that when the service is in such a bad state, the government has been compelled to partially accede to the demand of the private bus owners to increase fares. The government has agreed to allow a 15% fare increase as opposed to the 35% demanded by the private bus owners.

In order to keep the buses on the road in a situation where there has been no increase of bus fares since 1990, the present increase in fares is inevitable to meet the rising costs brought on by inflation. But such a measure alone would only heap further burdens on the already suffering traveling public.

The LSSP is strongly of the opinion that the quality of the transport service must be improved as soon as possible by organizational and structural changes and that a mere increase of the bus fares will not achieve this result.

The deterioration of the public bus service began with the UNP government disbanding the unified CTB and breaking it up into 93 units called the "Peoplised Bus service". The planned, coordinated and regular provision of bus transport for the public broke down as a result. The fragmented private bus service hastened the collapse of the CTB services and led to a breakdown of management due to trained graduate staff leaving. However, having privately owned buses, most of which are single buses operated by one owner, is a highly inefficient system and is responsible for buses operating mainly at peak hours with few buses at other times.

The above system that the UNP introduced does not work anywhere else in the world and is the root cause of the present chaotic situation. Even in the United States of America the City Municipal Corporations run the Urban bus services and big private companies run the intercity services.

The LSSP appeals to the government to constructively undo the damage done by the UNP to the public transport system and also expedite the reorganization which alone can provide a basis for a lasting solution to the problems facing the traveling public.


Lecture on South Asian security

Lankan journalist and author, Rohan Gunaratna will speak on the "Challenges facing security in South Asia" at the 16th General Conference of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) in Brisbane, Australia on Tuesday.

IPRA, the world's largest body of researchers, scholars, officials and activists working on war and peace issues, is a US based organization with its headquarters in Germany.

The conference speakers will be the 1995 Nobel peace laureate Joseph Rotblat, 1992 Nobel peace laureate, Rigoberta Mench Tum, Amnesty International President, Ross Daniels and UNESCO Director General, Dr. Federico Mayor.

Mr. Gunaratna will address the IPRA plenary on peace building in the Asia-Pacific region.


Death of an Officer

The second officer of a Cyprus registered cargo ship was found dead inside a bathroom of the vessel when it anchored at the Galle Port, an inquest was told yesterday.

The officer, a Polish national, identified as Crudzinski Cryzsztos (36) had reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself with a nylon code.

The inquest was held by inquirer N. G. Arambewala and the post mortem by Acting JMO, L. V. M. Fernando. A verdict of suicide was recorded.


Kolonnawa mess: no action taken

Businessmen in Orugodawatte who complained about the deplorable conditions of the area said there had been no action still by the Kolonnawa UC and that they continue to work under trying conditions. These were spotlighted in 'The Sunday Times' last week.

UC Chairman, C. Dias told 'The Sunday Times,' the main access road came under the Urban Development Authority and once these roads were handed over to the UC, action would be taken. He said water stagnation was due to the Telecom laying cables and it was the duty of that department to properly close the holes.

The Chairman denied there was any illegal slaughter house in the area or any place that burnt animal hides. He also claimed garbage was collected daily by the UC.


Baby Unit Closed

The premature baby unit of the Matale hospital has been closed following the deaths of 14 infants in just 11 days.

Hospital authorities probing the cause of their deaths have sent specimens of blood and water to the laboratory of the Peradeniya Medical College for Examination.


Donors attach strings

Several countries which pledged support to rebuild the war-torn northern province have said that they want to inspect the areas earmarked for rehabilitation before they make any firm commitment according to Somapala Gunadheera Chairman of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority of North.

Mr. Gunadheera told The Sunday Times while some countries were willing to fund the rehabilitation projects without any pre-requisites, others had laid down conditions.

So far none of the donor countries has specified the amount they would give. A Western diplomat said they would channel their funds through the World Bank. But Resident Representative of the World Bank in Colombo said no country had reached them in this regard.


Don't dictate terms to me, says Fowzie

Health Minister A. H. M. Fowzie has told medical students not to dictate terms to him and denied allegations that the Ministry was training some 600 AMPs to do the jobs of doctors.


Analysts fly to Jaffna

Two officers of the Government Analyst's Department flew to Jaffna yesterday to join in the probe of Thursday's suicide bombing in which 23 people were killed, Chief Analyst Y. Mahesan said.

The explosion was aimed at Housing Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva but he escaped with minor injuries.


PM visits Sai Baba under tight security

Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike and her son, Anura made a brief visit to the home of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and spent about six hours there, under tight security.

Ms. Bandaranaike and her family members were given a private audience by Sai Baba. She also participated in the bhajans.

The special Indian Air Force AVRO aircraft carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage landed an hour and a half later than scheduled at the Sri Sathya Sai Airport.

She was received by the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner Gautamadasa, the District Collector, P. Sundara Kumar, Inspector General of Police (Rayalaseema region), Alagar, and other top officials.

Following threat perception by the officials, security arrangements for Ms. Bandaranaike's visit were at their peak. Barring officials on duty, no one was allowed into the airport though presspersons protested. Senior police officials relented and later allowed a handful of photographers onto the tarmac.

The entire seven km route from the airport to Prasanthi Nilayam was sealed off and not even pedestrians were allowed to move for about two and a half hours, inconveniencing other devotees visiting this abode of peace.

She looked frail and tired but managed a smile on appearing from inside the aircraft.

As the aircraft took off to Madras, senior officials heaved a sigh of relief, for they had been on the job round the clock for the past three days preparing for the VVIP visit, ensuring that no trouble arose on any front.

Following a message suspecting that half a dozen members of the LTTE had proceeded to Puttaparthi, a red alert had been sounded and security was heavy.


Power plans to face crisis

Of the power plants so far contracted, only the 27 MW Aggreko plants at Katunayake and Ambatale are in operation. Others will take between one to three months while the Gas Turbine will take eight to nine months to be commissioned and the barge about six months, according to the CEB Contingency and Long Term Plan, of June 1996.

The contingency plan is to meet power needs when rains will be minimal in the coming 100 days. On the above assumption one can expect a minimum of 2GWH from hydro generation and an average of 3 GWH from Kelanitissa and Sapugaskanda Thermal Power plants.

Negotiations are underway to hire for seven years a barge mounted power plant to be commissioned in November this year. This would generate 50 MW.

Under the incentive programme for self-generation of electricity to the commercial sector, it states that all enterprises registered as a consumers of CEB/LECO (Non-BOI) whose contract demand is not less than 50 KVA are eligible to be considered under the scheme.

All such enterprises that become eligible under the scheme are permitted to import generators and obtain a grant.

Some banks have been issued Rs 20 million each to disburse to enterprises for the import of generators. This will be on a first come first served basis.

Under the heading interim action, the plan states that kerosene lamps, candles, wicks, kerosene oil should be available to meet a worse situation.

Continue to the News/Comment page 3 - The collapsing mills, How right is our human rights?, Russia's search for status

Return to the News/Comment contents page

Go to the Gossip Column - From Sir with lust

Go to the News/Comment Archive

Business

Home Page Front Page OP/ED Plus Sports

Please send your comments and suggestions on this web site to
info@suntimes.is.lk or to
webmaster@infolabs.is.lk