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CASE OF THE TALKING 3-WHEELS

In case you think you have seen better ones, elsewhere in the world, let me tell you, you have not.

by Aditha Dissanayake

Stuck in heavy traffic on the way to office every morning, the small hand on your watch ticking furiously past eight-thirty, do you worry yourself to death about being late yet again? Follow me and no worries from now on.

Engross yourself in this great past-time; scrutinize the three-wheelers around you. Reading, pondering, analyzing the minds of the drivers who cram their inner psyche into the space above the number plate at the back of their vehicles, you will find yourself thrilled, disgusted, tickled, so much so that by the time you reach the office you'd hardly notice you had clocked in twenty minutes late - yet again.

Most three-wheelers have messages that are bound to annoy, reassure or entertain you. Is this art? Or is this junk? Judge for yourself.

Wednesday morning. At the Maradana traffic lights - the first to catch the eye says "Day and night service". Next comes "Super Racing Fox" followed by 'Nobody perfect in the world" (somebody has scratched off the s). A lapse of three minutes. "Hard Target cruises past living up to its name while a second later another, courteously crawls by, claiming Sri Lankawa buduge deshayai.

It takes all but thirty minutes to note the following; copied from popular lyrics - Yanawanam yanna mang arang (if you are going, take me with you), Duras wannata me lesin aida apa hamuwune (why did we have to meet if we are to part like this?) Sithin vitharak pem karannam (My love for you is platonic), Kawadda aye enne hamuwanna ma ithin (when will you come to see me again?) and Waradak kalath hithakin nowe (Sorry, I didn't mean it).

Among the other slogans you might spot within a day are secular ones like Mahansiyen hammbakaralai meka gaththe (I bought this with hard earned money) and the practical Gatthe amaruwen vaddanna epa, punchi-apita nadda idak? As well as the philosophical Irisiyawa vinasayata mulai (jealousy causes harm) Ape nai apata kotai, sathutuweyalla iirshyawa athaharapalla.

Some drivers use this space to flaunt their affection for their families- the favourite being Amma often written with the adjective sudu or ratharan. Jeevithaya Mal, Amma innakal (Life is great till your mother lives), as well as Amma ratharan nam thaththa piththalada?. One that hit the nail on the head however, aptly describing the journeys made in these no-seat-belt-cans-on-wheels is Maruwa samagai vase... (I live with death).

But the most memorable is the three-wheeler with a huge safety pin stuck to its back. Why? The driver, a cynic to the core of his being says the pin (katuwa)symbolizes all womenkind. (Hama ganima katuwak).

But of course, the best ones are those that evoke laughter - "Don't kiss me", Atha Hitha Nandammage - (Everything's from my mother-in-law) and Dura yanna yanna obe suwanda lung una!

That's it. This ought to do it. In case you are not hooked already remember the mantra is, keep reading. Clever, hopeful, funny, down right mean or plain stupid, the canopy at the back of three-wheelers, are bound to provide great entertainment when you need it the most - stuck in heavy traffic.

Chances are one of the first inscriptions you read will be Ivaseemen sanaseema labe.