April 19, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s National Transport Commission (NTC) has stepped up enforcement measures after uncovering widespread fare irregularities during the busy Sinhala and Tamil New Year travel period.
Between April 08 and 18, inspection teams examined around 680 buses operating across key routes. Officials reported that 80 of these vehicles had charged passengers more than the approved fares, prompting immediate corrective action. The Commission ensured that affected travellers were reimbursed on the spot, while operators responsible for the violations were issued financial penalties.
Rohana Wattage, who heads the NTC’s Mobile Bus Inspection Unit, noted that enforcement efforts intensified as holiday travel peaked. On April 18 alone, nearly 150 buses were checked, with a dozen found to be in breach of fare regulations.
Authorities indicated that these inspections form part of a broader effort to protect commuters during high-demand periods, when instances of overcharging tend to rise. Monitoring operations are set to continue until April 21, with additional spot checks being carried out in high-traffic corridors.
One such operation took place along the High-Level Road between Hanwella and Kalugala, where inspectors focused on buses serving long-distance holiday travellers. Officials have signalled that similar crackdowns may be expanded in future to ensure fair pricing and maintain public confidence in the transport system.