3-wheel taxis to be regulated
View(s):The Government is embarking on the difficult task of regulating 3-wheeler taxis comprising around 900,000 vehicles which provide self-employment for over 3 million people both directly and indirectly.
At present there is no law which regulates three-wheelers.
A three wheeler park at Nawaloka Hospital. Pic by Nilan Maligaspe
Necessary regulations for this purpose are to be finalised by the Legal Draftsmen and the possibility of amending the Motor Traffic Act is also being explored, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan told the Business Times. He said that there was no need to set up a separate regulatory authority for this sector as the ministry could handle functions relating to trishaws in accordance with new regulations which are being drafted.
The ministry will set up a separate division to carry out administrative functions if necessary without burdening the Treasury, he emphasised.
The National Transport Commission (NTC) on behalf of the ministry has called for public views to formulate a code of guidelines for the regulation of 3-wheelers.
The aim is to provide the public with a mode of transport that is safe, fair and efficient. An expert panel has been appointed to implement this task.
President of the All Ceylon Three-wheeler Drivers’ Union (ACTDU), Lalith Dharmasekera welcomed the move saying there is an urgent need to regularise the industry. His union had made representations to the previous government to introduce such regulations but no action has been taken. The biggest problem facing passengers are that trishaws driven at dangerously high speeds and meters are not accurate.