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 (three-wheelers) 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.”
⚖️ The Industry’s Counter-Argument
Industry representatives asserted that the Police statement was inaccurate and contradicted long-standing laws governing foreign visitors driving vehicles in the country. They provided the following legal basis for their rebuttal:
- International Convention: Sri Lanka has been a contracting party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic since 1957.
- Domestic Law: The provisions of this international agreement were incorporated into domestic law through the 1958 Gazette issued under the Motor Car (Conventions) Ordinance.
🛵 Legal Procedure for Tourists
The companies emphasized that, under this established framework, foreign nationals are permitted to operate vehicles in Sri Lanka, including three-wheelers, provided they complete a specific verification process:
- The tourist must hold a valid International Driving Permit (IDP).
- The IDP must be verified and endorsed with a covering permit by the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC).
This process, they noted, has functioned for decades and continues to be recognized by the Department of Motor Traffic and other law enforcement authorities.
💥 Impact on Business
The companies further claimed that the Police statement had created unnecessary confusion among tourists and had negatively affected their businesses. They stressed 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.
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