The Western Province National Transport Commission has established new fixed fares for three-wheeler taxis, effective from last night. The fare is now Rs. 100 for the first kilometer and Rs. 90 for the second kilometer.
Lalith Dharmasekera, President of the All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Union (AITWDU), informed the Daily Mirror that the new fare system was implemented by the Chairman of the Western Province National Transport Commission. This followed orders from the Western Province Governor and recommendations from the three-wheeler fare regulation committee.
The announcement was made on July 9, and the new fares were enforced starting from the night of July 15. Additionally, a 15 percent surcharge will apply to taxi fares between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Passengers in the Western Province now have the authority to lodge complaints with the Western Province National Transport Commission, the police, or the Consumer Affairs Authority against three-wheeler taxi drivers who do not comply with these regulations.
These fixed charges also apply to metered taxi operators, who must display the charges for the first and second kilometers clearly for passengers to see. However, Dharmasekera noted that this new rule does not apply to taxi company mobile apps, which can manually adjust the distance.
All taxi drivers must install meters visible to passengers. Those without meters can operate according to their meter count but must display the charges for each kilometer. It is also now mandatory to issue a printed ticket or a handwritten bill if a passenger requests one.