Sri Lanka’s burgeoning ‘Tuk-Tuk Self-Drive Tourism’ trend, a unique initiative that has significantly boosted the local economy, is on the verge of collapse due to escalating government inefficiency and regulatory disarray. Reliable sources indicate preparing to launch a sudden operation to seize three-wheelers, even those legally rented by fully licensed tourists.
The catalyst for this imminent crackdown is a decision by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT)-operating under the current administration-to temporarily suspend the issuance of driving permits for three-wheelers to foreigners.
Over the past few years, renting a three-wheeler and exploring the island has become immensely popular among international visitors. This trend, attracting tourists from high-income countries like Europe, North America, and Australia, created a direct revenue stream for small, local three-wheeler owners and rental agencies.
However, a failure to implement promised institutional reforms by the current government has prevented the establishment of a simple, transparent framework to regulate this industry. Even proposals by the Tourist Police to regulate three-wheeler operations, made years ago, have been ignored by the government. As a result, risky, unlicensed agencies have proliferated, leading to road accidents and tourist inconvenience.
Instead of addressing the complex regulatory issue, the government has chosen a destructive policy that directly punishes the local economy and small entrepreneurs. The permit suspension and the sudden police operations targeting tourists-even those who obtained legal licenses, will severely damage Sri Lanka’s international image. The unpleasant experiences of tourists facing police pressure are highly likely to be broadcast widely across foreign media, negatively impacting the country’s reputation.
