A bus plying on route number 187 between Katunayaka Airport and Fort was ordered to pay a fine of Rs.75,000 by the Negombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (8) on the charge of travelling outside the route specified in the permit.
The bus driven by Mahamalage Upul Amarasinghe, a resident of Raddoluwa area, was travelling outside the route specified in the permit on August 15, and while parked near the 18th Mile Post Sports Complex, was questioned by Katunayaka Traffic Police division officers and filed a case against him in court.
Violating the conditions of Section 24 of the National Transport Commission Act No. 37 of 1991, by driving his bus on the side road of the 18th Mile Post, outside of the route mentioned in the permit, under the charge of committing an offense punishable under Section 40 (e) of the said Act, the Negombo Magistrate Darshanee Premaratne ordered the driver to pay a fine of Rs. 75,000.
These bus drivers had also launched a strike demanding permission to run their luxury buses on this side road from August 26 to 28. As a result, passengers arriving at Katunayaka Airport, Katunayaka Free Trade Zone and Airport Air Cargo Village were in dire straits.
T.K.G.Kapila