It is most encouraging to note that Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has taken prompt action to look into the death of a woman passenger bullied by a private bus conductor.

This sort of bullying, insult and injury has been going on since the government allowed anyone who could put a bus on the road to run a passenger bus service with little or no supervision.

Some huge buses are imported, In these buses only about 15 passengers can sit in comfort. The rest have to sit in very unfortable postures. This needs to be looked into.

When one gets into the bus, the conductor keeps on shouting like a tape-recorder "Go behind, go forward, give room for a centre row" and so on. Then comes the next inhuman order by the conductor "Those getting off at the next halt, come to the door". Now, the person who was forced to go to near the exit, takes time with much difficulty to do so. The "tape-recorder" starts working, dishing out insult for the slightest delay in getting off.

Worst still, these pervert conductors sit astride on the rail at the entrance and so the passenger getting in or getting out has to hold the rail between his legs. Also, the conductor ‘lovingly,’ helps a lady passenger into the moving bus. The driver helps him by ‘jerks’ and ‘jams’.

When these things happen, not a single passenger stands by the passenger who protests. They just don’t want to get involved.

Buses overtake on the wrong side just to pick up a few passengers caring less for the pedestrians. Pedestrianes have to jump into the drains to save themselves.

It is indeed a tough job to cleanse the transport service, but I am sure the new minister is equal to the task.

Joe A. Dawson
Wattala