Three-wheeler fares to remain unchanged despite petrol price reduction

Three-wheeler fares will not be revised despite the Government reducing the price of a liter of Octane 92 petrol by Rs. 15, according to L. Rohana Perera, General Secretary of the National Joint Three-Wheeler Drivers and Industrial Workers' Association (NJTWDIWA).

Perera alleged that the Government’s decision to reduce fuel prices by Rs. 15 while increasing the prices of milk powder and wheat flour was a strategic move.

He said the National Transport Commission has already prepared the necessary fare structure for regulating three-wheeler charges and submitted it to the relevant Ministry.

He further stated that the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority has indicated that it cannot request or implement a fare revision, as regulatory authority over three-wheeler fares rests with the National Transport Commission.

Accordingly, Perera said three-wheeler operators will continue to charge the existing fares until a legally approved fare revision is introduced.

Under the existing fare structure, passengers are charged Rs. 110 for the first kilometer and Rs. 90 for each subsequent kilometer.

“We will have to remain within the existing fare structure of Rs. 110 for the first kilometer and Rs. 90 for the second kilometer onwards. However, in normal three-wheeler operations on the roads, fares of around Rs. 110 to Rs. 120 are generally being charged rather than the official rates. This situation has arisen because the proposed fare structure has not yet been implemented as law. We hope that these fares will be introduced under the relevant regulations very soon,” he added.