Bring extortion gang to book - NTC chairman

National Transport Commission (NTC) chairman Roshan Gunawardena requested the Chilaw Urban Council chairman and the Wayamba DIG to break up a mafia style extortion gang operating near the Chilaw bus' stand, harassing bus crews by fleeing money from them and bring the culprits to book.

The NTC chairman said he received complaints about the gang when he visited Chilaw on August 7 to participate in the opening of the Inter-Provincial Bus Company office.

He was told that this gang was charging Rs 290 per day from a normal bus, Rs 220 per trip from a luxury service bus and Rs 230 per day from a bus plying the Chilaw-Negombo route.

But according to the Chilaw UC the normal parking fees approved by it is Rs 40 per normal service bus and Rs 50 per luxury bus.

He said 74 normal service buses and 44 luxury buses operate on the Chilaw-Colombo route and 89 ordinary buses operate on the Chilaw-Negombo route daily from the Chilaw bus stand.