Tuk-tuk meter bills compulsory after June 20
View(s):Three-wheeler meters with the facility of issuing a printed bill for customers after reaching their destination has been made compulsory by the government, a senior government official said.
File picture of a female tuk-tuk owner/driver.
The date of implementation of the new tuk-tuk meter bill will be extended to June 20 from April 20, National Council for Road Safety (NCRF) Chairman Dr. Sisira Kodagoda said.
This decision was taken after considering many appeals made by three wheeler owner associations, he disclosed.
He pointed out that stern legal action will be taken against tuk-tuk owners who fail to comply with the new directive issued by NCRF, once the deadline comes into force.
A large number of tuk-tuk owners in the South complained about difficulties they face in purchasing new meters.
“The government had already given a grace period last year as well as from January 1 to April 1 this year for the installation of tuk-tuk fare meters,” Dr. Kodagoda said adding that the relevant law will be implemented under whatever circumstances.
Stringent legal action will be taken against passenger transport three-wheelers without fare meters, he added
“There are around 1.2 million three-wheelers in Sri Lanka. Of them, around 900,000 run on a daily basis in the Western Province,” he said, adding that the law was not to exploit three-wheeler drivers but to regulate their service.