Bus fares likely to go up by over 10%; cabinet approval sought

Bus fares in Sri Lanka may rise by more than 10% due to rising fuel prices. The National Transport Commission (NTC) plans to submit a proposal for Cabinet approval on this matter tomorrow, the 23rd. The NTC explained that the recent increase in diesel prices affects the formula used to set bus fares, leading to the expected hike. Dr. Nilan Miranda, the Director General of the NTC, announced that they aim to get Cabinet approval tomorrow to implement this fare increase. The current bus fare was set on July 4, 2025, when the price of Auto Diesel was Rs. 289 per liter. However, with the latest rise in fuel costs, the price of diesel has jumped from Rs. 303 to Rs. 382 per liter, marking an increase of Rs. 79. Over this period, the total rise in the price of Auto Diesel has reached Rs. 93. As a result, this adjustment leads to an increase in bus fares of over 10%. Therefore, the proposal has been sent to the Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow to seek approval for the new bus fare increase.