Private bus operators in Gampaha have launched a strike since Monday inconveniencing thousands of Colombo bound office workers from Gampaha, Nittambuwa and Kirilawella to Colombo.

They are protesting against long distance buses picking up passengers at Nittambuwa and between Nittambuwa and Colombo.c

The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association, (LPBOA) which operate buses mainly in and around Colombo, said the dispute had been brought to the notice of the National Transport Commission.

"We asked the relevant authorities to cancel route permits of these long distance buses " LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said.

NTC Director General M. A. Jiffrey said that long distance buses had been asked to refrain from picking up passengers at Nittambuwa. The strike affected Gampaha-Colombo route 200, Nittambuwa-Colombo route 180 and Kirillawala –Fort route 138/1.