Three-wheel rental companies have rejected claims made by Police Media Spokesperson ASP F. U. Wootler, who stated at a media briefing that it is “totally illegal” for foreigners to drive trishaws in Sri Lanka.
In a video statement issued last week, ASP Wootler said: “We have witnessed tourists using trishaws, which is totally illegal. We have also taken legal action against the owners of these trishaws.”
Industry representatives said the Police statement was inaccurate and contradicted long-standing laws governing foreign visitors driving vehicles in the country. They noted that Sri Lanka has been a contracting party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic since 1957, and that its provisions were incorporated into domestic law through the 1958 Gazette issued under the Motor Car (Conventions) Ordinance.
Under this framework, foreign nationals holding a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) are permitted to operate vehicles in Sri Lanka, including three-wheelers, once their IDP is verified and endorsed with a covering permit by the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC).
They said this process has functioned for decades and continues to be recognised by the Department of Motor Traffic and law enforcement authorities.
The companies further claimed that the Police statement had created unnecessary confusion among tourists and had negatively affected their businesses, stressing that tourists regularly and lawfully use IDPs to rent and drive three-wheelers in Sri Lanka.
Several attempts by Newswire to obtain clarification from police went unanswered. (Newswire)