Fuel crisis hits Jaffna public transport

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 14:45 GMT]
Sri Lanka Electricity Board (SLEB) which supplies fuel and oil to Jaffna Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) informed Thursday that it may have to suspend supplies to Jaffna SLTB if the arrears of 51 million rupees due is not paid, Koa'ndaavil SLTB head office sources said.

7 million rupees, being rent for 10 buses used by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna peninsula had not been paid to Jaffna SLTB but had been paid by the Defence Ministry to SLTB Colombo head office.

2 million rupees of this arrears was released by efforts taken by Jaffna Government Agent in consultation with the SLA in Palaali.

The fuel purchased for the 2 million enabled to resume services in Jaffna peninsula from Monday that had been suspended but the fuel is sufficient to continue bus services only up to Saturday.

The buses that were sent from Colombo to serve the needs of the public have been taken over by the SLA for military use, and prompt payment of the leasing cost would help to purchase fuel, they added.

Unless alternative measures are immediately taken by the government and the GA SLTB bus services in Jaffna peninsula completely ground to a halt next week, transportation officials warned.

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