Three wheeler thugs rule at Senanayake Avenue, Nawala

The top of Senanayake Avenue, Nawala, leading to the Nawala-Nugegoda road is constantly blocked by a group of three wheeler thugs in their vehicles who claim that this part of the road is their ‘stand’. They also chase away any vehicle that chooses to park in ‘their area’. It has become a situation where these men have taken the law into their own hands and actually ‘police’ the top of the road according to their whims and fancies.

At night these drivers are after liquor and bang on other vehicles that are caught in a jam beside them that try to get onto the Nawala Nugegoda road, whilst urging them to move from there fast.

I would like to know how these drivers have staked a claim of Senanayake Avenue being their own and by whose authority they dictate to and threaten residents and others who try to park there.

Senanayake Avenue is a narrow road and these three wheelers hinder other vehicles entering and exiting the road at this point. Pedestrians run the risk of being knocked down due to the bottle neck the three wheeler drivers cause. Drivers run the risk of accidents due to the congestion they cause.

There are cars, lorries, vans and sometimes buses that use this narrow road. Moreover, the opposite side of the lane is also congested by cars that park there, but temporarily, as opposed to the permanent takeover by the three wheeler drivers. So this causes even more congestion.

This worsening situation has been going on for some time and the Kotte Municipal authority/ Traffic Police seem to have turned a blind eye to the goings-on at Senanayake Avenue.

The authorities should ask these men to vacate their vehicles with immediate effect. They should allocate a proper space for all three wheelers in the area so that they do not hinder the public and take the law into their own hands.

Also, the part of Senanayake Avenue leading to the main road should be demarcated as a no-parking area so that vehicles can turn into or exit this road safely. Over to the Mayor of Kotte/ Traffic Police to resolve this lawless situation.