Bus Fares Frozen, Tuk Fares May Rise — Is the 20-Year Fuel Formula Still Fair?

After the Nov 2 fuel hike (92 octane up to Rs 424, diesel to Rs 397 a litre), bus and school van fares stayed exactly where they were — the increase didn't cross the 4% threshold built into the national bus fare formula, which has run unchanged for twenty years. Three-wheeler fares aren't bound by that formula at all, and driver unions are now split: some want the first-km rate pushed up right away, others say commuters can't take it this month. Bus operators say the formula protects passengers from a fare jump every time fuel moves, while critics say it just delays the pain and squeezes operators until the next review comes due. Tuk drivers without any formula either absorb the cost quietly or raise rates on their own, with no referee either way. If you ride the bus, drive a tuk, or run a fleet — does a rigid formula actually serve you, or should fares track fuel in real time? What's actually changed for you at the pump versus at the fare meter this month? ඉන්ධන මිල ඉහළ ගියත් බස් කුලිය මාරු වුනේ නැහැ, ත්‍රීරෝද රථ හිමියන් බෙදිලා — මේ ෆෝමියුලාව තවම හරිද?