A German tourist has accused local three-wheeler drivers of harassing her and a group of friends for attempting to travel via an app-based taxi service in Matara.
In a video message, the female German tourist revealed that she and her friends had arrived in Matara via bus on 18th February and had booked a car through a local- app-based taxi service to travel to Mirissa Beach.
She said that, however, when they had attempted to get into the vehicle a group of local three-wheeler drivers had harassed them preventing them from using the taxi service.
The tourist claimed that she and her friends were forced to move to another area to meet the taxi driver, but were surrounded once again by the local three-wheeler drivers.
She further stated after negotiating with the three-wheeler drivers and paying a commission, they were allowed to travel in the car from the local- app-based taxi service.
Stating that this was a sad situation, the German tourist added that as a tourist it was an unpleasant experience in Sri Lanka.
This is the latest incident to be reported involving the harassment of foreign tourists by local three-wheeler drivers in Sri Lanka.
On 7th February, video footage recorded by two foreign tourists in a three-wheeler, showed the driver being verbally abused and warned not to transport tourists in the Galle area.
The incident occurred after the tourists had booked a three-wheeler via the local- app-based taxi service.
Incident video link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=749989493367147&extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&mibextid=2Rb1fB&ref=sharing (NewsWire)