Sri Lanka, June 10 -- The day before yesterday, the Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) curtailed bus operations, reducing services by 50 percent. As a result, passengers were left at the mercy of limited transport and faced considerable hardship. Citizens, who rely on private buses for their daily commute, are far from satisfied with the service they receive.

Unregulated private bus services first began in 1907. Following a period of state nationalisation that commenced on January 1, 1958, the Government reopened the market to private operators in 1979. Since then, private bus services have coexisted with the state-run Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).

The first motor omnibus was imported in 1907, marking the beginning of pr...