|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 07 January 2005 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Chamikara Weerasinghe The government will pay Rs. 25 million for all damaged private buses caught in the tsunami disaster. The Government has agreed to pay this to the private transport sector on a request by the Sri Lanka Private Bus Association (SLPBA). Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundara had informed the Association that their request would be granted, SLPBA Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said. Addressing a press conference at the Centre for Women's Research in Narahenpita, yesterday Wijeratne said it was a shame because out of many Insurance companies which insured their buses, workers and passengers, only three had come forward to settle claims. "We pay these companies as much as Rs. 700 million per year. Only Sri Lanka Insurance Company, Ceylinco and Co-operative Insurance Company have turned up to settle payments," he said. He said Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association would not have any insurance transactions with the companies which let them down at the time of disaster, in the future. He said they would take steps to pay compensation to all affected passengers. "The passengers have insurance coverage. We have already identified 600 passengers," he said. Wijeratne said the Government help would be sought to identify the other passengers or their families. Asked to comment on their bus operations after the tsunami, he said they had recovered 100 buses from a fleet of 200 buses damaged in the tsunami. "They have been repaired and put to operations." "We have lost six buses damaged beyond repair. All reports of damaged buses are from the south. No damages have been reported from the North-East as far as the private buses are concerned," he said. "We inspected the situation in most areas affected by the tidal wave except in Batticaloa. I will pay a visit to Batticaloa to inspect the situation on Saturday," said Wijeratne. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
