Riding nowhere: Tuk-tuk parable of protectionism View(s):Sri Lanka’s tourism boom in 2025 ended not with fireworks, but with a tuk-tuk turmoil. Organised groups of local tuk-tuk drivers were reported to have harassed tourists and clashed with drivers attached to ride-hailing platforms like PickMe and Uber. Among the general public, these local tuk-tuk gangs have earned the notorious label of the “three-wheeler mafia”. This means that out of our 8.2 million employed labour force, about 15 per cent are tuk-tuk drivers! Parable of protectionismLocal tuk-tuk drivers charge high fares, secure only a few rides, and spend much of the day idle.

Source: Sunday Times January 03, 2026 18:59 UTC