The President of Lanka Private Bus Owners Association Gemunu Wijerathne requests the government to impose 5,000 rupees as fine for begging and selling goods inside buses. Mr. Wijeratne yesterday further said that he had requested the Finance Minister to include a clause to ban begging and selling goods inside buses and to add 5,000 rupees as fines when the Motor Traffic Act of 1951 is being amended to add seven traffic offences.

He said he had requested Minister Ravi Karunanayake to implement the rules to ban begging and doing businesses inside the buses, which causes inconveniences to the commuters. Many complaints had been received about harassment caused by beggars and sellers. He said drug addicts collect their daily collection and some book sellers sell their books while pick pocketing the passengers.

Since the Act had been implemented for 66 years, there had been no specific fine defined. He said therefore, a request had been made to the Minister to charge a fine of minimum 5,000 rupees for begging and selling goods inside buses.