The police state that the trend of foreigners visiting Sri Lanka riding three-wheelers has increased in the country and steps have been taken to introduce a set of rules in this regard recently.
In particular, for some time now, locals have been giving these foreigners a few minutes of training on tricycles on the side roads around Katunayake and then they can often be seen leaving for their destinations on their three-wheelers, according to local residents.
However, the police have stated on several occasions that in the recent past, it has been observed that three-wheelers driven by foreigners have been involved in fatal and serious accidents.
When attention was paid to this matter, it was revealed that the foreigners driving these three-wheelers did not have licenses or proper training for these accidents.
As a measure to prevent and control this situation, the police state that if a foreigner drives a three-wheeler without a valid license, they will summon the owner of the vehicle, record a statement and file a case against him in court. The police have also requested the institutions and hotel owners that provide vehicles to tourists to check whether they are in possession of a valid driving license to drive vehicles in the country when providing vehicles to foreigners, especially three-wheelers, and take steps to provide them with the relevant vehicles.
There is also an institution that provides three-wheelers to foreigners in this way, especially in the Katunayake area. Many three-wheelers named after this institution can already be seen being driven by foreigners in many parts of Sri Lanka.
A few months ago, a news story circulated on social media about super cricketer Jonty Rhodes traveling around the country in a three-wheeler owned by this institution.
Allowing a three-wheeler to be driven in this manner is an offence punishable by a fine of Rs. 25,000 as per Section 123(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act and this fine is imposed on the owner of the vehicle in question.
A foreigner must have a valid driving license in this country, a valid international driving license in this country or a license from the country where the foreign national is resident in order to drive a vehicle in this country.
The above-mentioned licenses must be valid. The relevant announcement issued by the police
