The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association has decided not to accede to the request made by JVP affiliated All Ceylon Transport Services Union to join the July 10 token strike.

LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne told The Island that the LPBOA was not affiliated to any political party and as an association it would not join any politically-affiliated trade union to protest against issues. The LPBOA took an impartial decision not to join the strike as it shares a heavy responsibility with the government to provide a better transport service to the public. The JVP trade union in the CTB had approached the LPBOA at the eleventh hour to obtain its support and it had already informed the CTB trade union about its decision.

Wijeratne said that if it had been a common demand affecting the entire country the LPBOA would have acceded to the request made by the CTB trade union, but as a matter of policy the LPBOA would never act irresponsibly to cripple the transport services. All private bus owners had been informed that they could join the strike on their own but not as representatives of the association. Bus owners could park their buses at home and any violent activities towards disrupting transport services instigated by bus owners would be severely dealt with, he said.