Three trishaw bodies demand crackdown

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma was not happy over the unreasonable charges, demanded by certain trishaw drivers especially by those unregistered even without taking into account the distance.

He said only a few trishaw drivers are engaged in this dirty practice and new laws will be implemented soon to stop this.

Roadside Passenger Transport Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna too was against the exorbitant amounts demanded by certain trishaw drivers from passengers. He said that this irregularity could be easily overcome by fixing meters in trishaws.

"As in the early days, where meters were fixed to Morris Minor taxies, we hope to re-introduce meters for trishaws too."

The Minister also assured that meters would be imported within the next two months through private sector institutions.

"However, we expect to carry out a survey on trishaws shortly and the meters will be provided at reasonable prices."

Private Sector executive Rajiv Dasanayaka who is a regular traveller in trishaws said there were no proper regulations for passenger transporting trishaw drivers and this resulted in most drivers demanding different charges for the same journey.

"Recently, I got into a trishaw opposite the Regal Theatre in Colombo and paid Rs. 60 to Pettah, but on my return journey another trishaw charged me Rs. 75.

"When asked the driver why different amounts are charged for the same journey, he was reluctant to respond, but blamed the Government for increasing the price of fuel," he said.

He also requested the authorities to provide free parking facilities for trishaw drivers.

Chairman, Kirulpona Trishaw Association Rohana Perera blamed Police personnel in the city for their inability to provide them with necessary parking facilities.

"We have not yet been given proper parking facilities and whenever we park our vehicles at any place to take passengers, we are being driven by the Police.

"We are not even allowed at least two minutes to finalise deal with the customer about the journey."

When asked about his opinion on fixing meters, he enquired why the authorities were very much concerned over this issue, rather than taking steps to provide them with tyres and spare parts at low prices.

"They are interested in meters not because they want the passengers to be benefited, but to obtain huge commissions from importers," he said.

He also mentioned how public officials in the past earned huge commissions during the introduction of helmets for motorcyclists in the country.

However, Rohana did not show any reluctance over the fixing of meters, but insisted on that these meters should be provided free considering the pathetic living conditions of trishaw drivers.

"We pay tax for our vehicles, therefore the authorities must provide us with meters free," he said.

Rohana also spoke about two stroke trishaws, on which the Government has already taken a decision to ban them from next year. "We also like if the authorities go ahead with the banning of the import of two stroke trishaws.

"But, do not trouble those who are already having two stroke trishaws,"

He also requested higher officials to go ahead with importing spare parts for their two stroke vehicles even after the year 2011.

Chairman, Kollupitiya Trishaw Association, W.G. Siriyaratna requested the authorities to crack down on thousands of unregistered trishaw drivers in the city, who are responsible for demanding exorbitant charges from passengers.

"Our association members have adopted fixed charges for various destinations and we never charge beyond those amounts, but the unregistered trishaws create the havoc always".

He said nearly 6,000 unregistered trishaws are engaged in a brisk passenger transport business everyday in the city after 6 p.m.

"We are aware that these part-time unregistered trishaw drivers are getting full protection from higher authorities as many of them are either Army or Police personnel, owning trishaws along with public and private sector employees," he said.

Chairman, Fort Trishaw Association, M.D.U Wijemanna highly worried about the step-motherly treatment of Police personnel towards the trishaw drivers in the city.

He said before the last Presidential Election, their Association met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 24, 2005 at Temple Trees to discuss certain unresolved matters pertaining to the high cost of spare parts, the parking problem in the city and about the fuel subsidy.

"But, we are so sorry to say that none of these pledges were kept and therefore we earnestly request the President to intervene in this matter and bring relief to all trishaw owners even at this crucial moment".

Twenty-one-year-old University student Kamaladeva Rajapaksha of Wattala asked the Government to grant a fuel subsidy for trishaws transporting passengers. Unless this is done no trishaw will reduce charges.

A trishaw owner and mother of three children Asoki Satharasinghe of Mt. Lavinia said the maintenance costs of trishaws were very high and requested the authorities to set up a sales centre to sell trishaw spare parts at low cost.

"This will immensely help trishaw owners to reduce their charges," she added.

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