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From Jan 15, meters compulsory for WP three-wheelers
The Vehicle Regulation State Ministry is going ahead with a plan to ensure that all Western Province three-wheelers are fitted with taxi meters by January 15.
Ministry Secretary Lalith de Alwis told the Sunday Times the scheme would be extended to all parts of the country on a phase-by-phase basis by June 15.
He said they arranged the scheme to be implemented province-vice taking into consideration financial difficulties three-wheel operators faced due to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic situation.
The secretary said the ministry had decided to re-implement regulations which were gazetted in September 2017 and came into operation from 2018. However, the regulations were not actively implemented due to various factors such as political pressure and protests by three-wheel operators’ unions in 2018.
He said the ministry was urging three-wheel operators to fix Sri Lanka Standard Institute (SLSI)-approved taxi meters. Currently there are six brands of SLSI-approved meters.
Mr Alwis said that they had told the police chief to actively monitor and implement the regulations at the provincial level.
He said the newly appointed technical committee on three wheel regulations would also be informed about the move at its inaugural meeting on Tuesday.
The Committee Chairperson Renuka Perera told the Sunday Times they would discuss the state policy on three-wheelers at their first meeting.
He said he believed it was better if the move was halted until the committee evaluated the proposal and gave its opinion.
The committee head said that the availability of specified government-approved meters which could not be manipulated and the grace period for taxi drivers to instal meters werematters that they should discuss and arrange.
The All Island Three-wheeler Drivers and Owners Association’s President, Sudhil Jayaruck, said that even though they agree to have taxi meters, they were against making it compulsory.
He said the setting up of a regulatory body, a proper fare formula and a government-recognised meter must be introduced before taxi meters were made compulsory.
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