Local three-wheeler driver unions reiterated their clarion call for the relevant transport authorities to regulate the sector in the wake of a recent, highly publicised, incident of a foreign female tourist travelling as a passenger in a three-wheeler being harassed by another three-wheeler driver. 

Two incidents of sexual harassment of female foreign tourists came to light in recent days. In the first incident, a female foreign tourist who was driving a three-wheeler in the Thirukkovil area was sexually harassed by an individual on a motorbike. In the second such incident, this time reported from the Kandy area, a female foreign tourist who was a passenger in a three-wheeler was sexually harassed by the driver of a three-wheeler traveling alongside the vehicle that she was in.

Responding to queries about what they intended to do to address such crimes and prevent their recurrence, the All Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Association noted the latter incident of the alleged harassment of a foreign female tourist in Kandy was an "isolated incident”, and that “no professional three-wheeler driver is responsible”. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Association's President, Lalith Dharmasekara further asserted the responsibility for the said incident lies with other “non-professional three-wheeler drivers with no discipline”. Hence, he argued that such situations can only be eradicated by establishing a system of regulation for three-wheelers across the island.

Expounding on the history of attempts to regulate the sector, Dharmasekara elaborated that three-wheelers were first implemented as a transport service in 1978, followed by the initial Governmental attempt to regulate such drivers in the Western Province in 2002, which was however not implemented. However, he added the current Government is in the process of establishing a regulatory system, but as it has not come to fruition yet, no practical outputs can be seen.

Attempts to contact the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Tourist Police Division for comment on the matter proved futile.