Tuk-tuk drivers against paid apps: attacks and controversy in Sri Lanka

PickMe, one of the leading ride-hailing companies, complains: ‘The police are turning a blind eye to the intimidation suffered by our drivers.’ The new services are breaking the monopoly of local groups that imposed exorbitant fares on tourists.But the failure to enforce basic rules, such as the requirement for a taximeter on every three-wheeled vehicle, also weighs heavily.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - Tension is growing in Sri Lanka between three-wheeled vehicle drivers (known as tuk-tuks) and app-based service providers such as Uber and PickMe.

A few days ago, in Ella, a popular tourist resort in the province of Uva, PickMe drivers were harassed and prevented from picking up passengers because they were competing with the exorbitant prices imposed on tourists by the ‘local mafia’ of three-wheelers.

Even for a short distance of one kilometre, a minimum fare of around 200 rupees is charged, while app-based services charge approximately 80 to 100 rupees per kilometre. Although governments have repeatedly promised to regulate three-wheeler services, particularly fares, years of poor enforcement and indecision have allowed the industry to operate with minimal accountability, leaving commuters exposed to arbitrary prices and inconsistent service standards.

PickMe, a leading ride-hailing company, has protested that ‘the police are turning a blind eye to the violence and intimidation our drivers face from local tuk-tuk operators’. The problem of violence by tuk-tuk gangs against app-based drivers who charge lower fares now risks jeopardising the country's reputation as a “safe destination” for tourists.

The authorities have often attempted to make taximeters mandatory throughout the country; However, in many areas, three-wheelers continue to operate without meters, and in several areas, meters have reportedly been tampered with. Recent incidents in tourist locations, including Katunayake Airport, Kandy Railway Station and popular destinations such as Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Weligama, highlight the seriousness of the situation.

Adesh Mendis, Nishamnai Samarasekara and Ravindu Gamage, three local tourists visiting Ella, told AsiaNews about last week's incident. "We hired two PickMe three-wheelers to travel to various locations in Ella and Haputale. We were stopped along the way by local three-wheeler drivers, who forced us to get into their vehicles. Our drivers were threatened and forced to turn back. According to the app, the cost of our trip was 1,500 rupees, while the local three-wheelers wanted us to pay 2,800 rupees. Even though we tried to negotiate, they refused to lower their prices. We had no choice but to pay the high price they imposed on us. We don't carry large sums of money when we travel,‘ users complain, ’we use credit cards to pay app-based drivers, while local drivers have to be paid in cash."

University lecturers Roshan Gunatillake and Sampath Attygala believe that "to prevent the three-wheeler mafia, taximeters should first be made mandatory throughout the country, with severe penalties for tampering.

Secondly, designated pick-up areas should protect app-based operators at airports, stations and tourist sites. Thirdly, a transparent fare structure, linked to distance and fuel prices, should be enforced by law. Finally, a professional licensing and complaint management system should make drivers accountable for their actions.

Without decisive action of this kind, the state risks ceding governance of public transport to chaos, at a cost to citizens, local visitors and foreigners alike. The authorities' inaction is largely due to the electoral base represented by over one million three-wheeled vehicle drivers and over 2.5 million votes, including their families.

‘Currently,’ the academics continue, ‘three-wheelers play a significant role, especially in rural areas without public transport. However, this cannot justify excessive fares, intimidation and behaviour that damages Sri Lanka's image. Exorbitant prices and occasional arrogance, including incidents of harassment, are the impressions that tourists take home with them.’

For their part, three-wheeler driver associations have organised protests in various parts of the country, arguing that ‘we have the right to set prices for customers’.