A National Policy to regulate the tuk-tuk service is on the way, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
He said this at a discussion at the Transport Ministry Auditorium in Sethsiripaya yesterday. The objectives of the special discussion was to educate the three wheeler drivers about the national policy and to receive their proposals and ideas for policy making. Members of Three Wheeler Drivers’ Associations presented several proposals to the policy.
One main request was to increase the three wheeler speed limit from 40kmph to 50kmph. The absence of laws and regulations on three wheelers operating passenger transport services since 1980s will be filled by this National Policy, Minister de Silva said.
“Sri Lanka has 1.2 million three wheelers. It is advisable to limit the three wheeler importation in the coming years.
Three wheeler driving licences will be issued only for persons above 35 years. We will bring forth rules and regulations to Parliament and later to the Department of Legal Draftsman,” de Silva said.
He said this national policy is to standardise passenger transport service and safeguard the professional three wheeler drivers in Sri Lanka.
Minister de Silva also said he will make the Finance Minister aware of the financial issues faced by the three wheeler drivers.
“The Transport Ministry does not have provisions to intervene in the price controlling. Three wheeler drivers and the passengers should cooperate to implement this policy,” Minister de Silva added. The Motor Traffic Department, Police, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Transport Ministry have launched a joint task in formulating this national policy.
Transport Ministry Secretary Nihal Somaweera, Motor Traffic Department Commissioner A.H.K. Jagath Chandrasiri, representatives from the Sri Lanka Police and Three Wheeler Drivers and Owners Association were present at the discussion.
