Lanka Omnibus Operators Association President Gemunu Wijeratne yesterday vowed that his association would file a violation of fundamental rights case in the Supreme Court or resort to trade union action if the government reduces bus fares arbitrarily more than the agreed 9 percent.

He said at a news conference that the private bus fares will not be reduced by 25 per cent as claimed by the government.

"It is a misconception and the President has been misled by some unscrupulous elements," he said.

There will only be a 9.93 percent reduction of bus fares and a rupee will be reduced from every section with the minimum fare remaining at Rs. 7 Wijeratne said.

"We are abiding by the National Transport Policy and hence we would strive to pass the benefit to the public. The National Transport Policy has not been ratified by Parliament." said.

The private bus owners are operating the service with the greatest difficulty in the face of rapid cost escalations and if there is an unfair reduction of fares they will be forced to cease operating their services, Wijeratne said.

He challenged the government to ask the lorry operators and the container operators to reduce their charges. This would never happen, he said.