News
Regulations soon to rein in three-wheeler fares, safety and operations
View(s):By Nathara Abeywickrema
In a significant development for Sri Lanka’s transport sector, the Transport Minister has announced plans to finalise measures to regulatethree-wheelers within the next two months.
This comes amid challenges where existing regulations, already gazetted by some provincial councils, including the Western and Central Provinces, have not been effectively enforced.
But the Three Wheeler Drivers and Owners Association has voiced concerns regarding the recent marginal fall in three-wheeler fares, citing that while fuel prices have dropped, other overheads have remained high, making the current fare structure necessary to continue sustainable operations.
Guidelines will be set for fare structures, operating hours, and routes to streamline the service. Pic by Nilan Maligaspe
Regulation has been a longstanding issue, All Island three-wheel drivers and owners association president Sudhil Jayaruk said.
According to him, customers will benefit if the government agrees to reduce the fuel price to Rs. 300 per litre, which will allow three-wheelers to reduce fares to at least Rs. 80.
He stressed that the country as a whole, not just the Western Province, needs a suitable mechanism to regulate three-wheelers, including proper training of tuk-tuk drivers, before licences are issued from the Western Provincial Council.
Concurrently, the Road Passenger Transport Authority of the Western Province declared that a decision has been made to lower three-wheeler fares from July 15.
As a result, the Rs. 100 fare for the first kilometre will remain unchanged, and the Rs. 90 fare has been set for the second kilometre, Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority (RPTA) chairman Prasanna Sanjeewa said.
Head of Three-wheeler Bureau of the RPTA-WP, Jeeveendra Keerthiratne said that the Rs. 10 deduction was an interim measure and that the price formula is being developed.
He said steps had been taken sometime ago to draft regulations to improve safety standards, emissions control, and operational guidelines, but the implementation was inconsistent and often ineffective due to administrative and enforcement challenges.
By promising to finalise regulations at the national level within two months, the government aims to create a unified framework across all provinces.
Regulations on safety standards, emissions control, and operational guidelines are expected to cover several critical aspects, as Mr. Keerthiratne pointed out.
These will include improving safety features and ensuring compliance with minimum safety requirements such as fully-insured three-wheelers, meters, displaying the charge per kilometre and second kilometre, mandating the closure of the right side opening, proper lighting, and structural integrity. Measures would also be implemented to curb emissions and improve environmental sustainability, potentially by mandating the use of cleaner fuels or retrofitting older vehicles with emission control devices.
Moreover, guidelines will be set for fare structures, operating hours, and routes to streamline the service.
Mr. Keerthiratne also said that additionally, plans are underway to lower the fares of taxi services like PickMe.
In response to that, PickMe Sri Lanka CEO Zulfer Jiffry said the company has a responsibility to provide the best value to tuk-tuk drivers and customers and that three-wheeler tariffs would be lowered. The analysis of cutting the three-wheeler fare is underway, paying heed to the cost of fuel, spare parts, and kilometres per hour, Mr. Jiffry said.
The Cabinet papers for the National Transport Commission Act, which would place regulations on all three-wheelers, taxi services, school vans, and office transport vehicles under the NTC, have already been produced, and the law is almost ready, NTC Chairman Shashi Welgama said.
The Act would go into effect within the next month or two, he said.
Ministry of Transport and Highways secretary R.G. Rubasinghe said Cabinet approval will be given within the next couple of weeks.
He said clear regulations can improve working conditions, safety, and legal certainty for drivers, while passengers would have improved safety and comfort standards.
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