THREE-WHEELER FARES TO GO UP TONIGHT

Three-wheeler fares would be increased for the second kilometre by Rs.10 with effect from today (12) while the fare for the first kilometre will remain unchanged, the Lanka Self-employed Professionals’ National Three-wheeler Federation said yesterday.

Accordingly, the fare for the first kilometre would remain unchanged at Rs. 60 while the fare of Rs. 40 for the second kilometre would be increased by Rs.10 to Rs. 50, the Federation’s President Sunil Jayawardana said.

However, he said the revised charges would apply only to the Western and Southern Provinces because of the high number of passengers in these provinces.

“The three-wheeler fare which is Rs.80 for the first kilometre in the other seven provinces would be increased by Rs. 20. Charges for the second kilometre would be increased from Rs.40 to Rs. 60,” Mr. Jayawardana said.

The decision has been taken after the recent fuel price revision which came into effect from Wednesday (10) night and the government’s failure to regulate the three-wheelers, he said

“Three-wheeler taxi fares have not been increased for the last six years and I, as a union leader, was against increasing three-wheeler fares. There are 228, 000 members registered three-wheelers in our association island-wide and the decision to increase fares was taken to protect their livelihood and the three-wheeler service as a whole,” Jayawardana said.

“We have no other option than to increase fares. We do not have any support from the government. We earn our living by what we get from our customers. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to the people in this manner,” he said. According to the fare revision, the charges for night time hire for the second kilometre would be increased by an additional Rs.10 to Rs.60 in the Western and Southern Provinces. However, in the other seven provinces, charges for the first kilometre which is now at Rs.80 would be increased to Rs.90. This applies to hires that take place after 10 pm.

Meanwhile, All-island Threewheeler Drivers’ Union President Lalith Dharmasekera said that they had decided to increase the fare of the second kilometre by Rs.2.“we cannot increase taxi fares the way we want just because fuel prices increase every month. Therefore, we had discussions with the taxi meter issuing companies and came to a decision to increase the fare for just the second kilometre by Rs.2,” Mr. Dharmasekera said.