The Government is set to formally recognise the three-wheeler industry as part of the country’s public transport network.
Amendments to the National Transport Commission (NTC) Act will introduce new guidelines and regulatory measures to bring structure and recognition to the sector, which has played an essential role in Sri Lanka’s transport landscape for decades.
The second reading of the amended Act is scheduled to take place in Parliament this week, according to NTC Director General Nayomi Jayawardena.
For years, three-wheelers (also called tuk-tuks) have served as a critical mode of transport, offering affordable, flexible, and convenient mobility to millions across the country.
With nearly one million three-wheelers in operation, the sector provides direct and indirect employment to more than five million people. Yet until now, it has remained largely unregulated at the national level.
This new development is not just about regulation, it is a formal recognition of the economic and social contribution of three-wheeler drivers.
The Government’s aim is to ensure that passengers receive a safe and reliable service, while giving three-wheeler operators the dignity of being part of an officially recognised industry.
Instead of establishing a new authority, the Government will implement the new rules through provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities, guided by the framework created under the NTC Act. “We are not setting up a separate three-wheeler regulatory authority,” said Jayawardena.
“We are introducing laws and guidelines that will empower provincial authorities to oversee three-wheeler operations. Many years ago, a Rs. 600 million budgetary allocation was made by former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to establish a three-wheeler authority. While the dedicated authority was never created, the essence of that proposal is now being realised through this broader national regulatory approach.”
The surge in three-wheeler usage, especially in the Western Province, has made regulation both timely and necessary.
According to the Urban Transport Master Plan (2014), the number of three-wheelers registered with the Department of Motor Traffic increased nearly fourfold between 1999 and 2004—from 25,043 to 96,650. That number has only continued to rise.
Three-wheelers operate as intra-provincial services, which is why the Government believes a provincial-level regulatory model—supported by national guidelines—is the most practical and effective way forward.
While some provinces, such as the Western Province, have made efforts in the past to introduce their own three-wheeler service statutes, this new national initiative marks a unified and coordinated approach to elevating the industry.