Three-wheeler operators will maintain current fares following a government reduction in petrol prices, as regulatory authorities await formal approval of a new fare structure.
Three-wheeler fares are expected to remain unchanged despite the government reducing Octane 92 petrol prices by Rs. 15 per liter, according to L. Rohana Perera, General Secretary of the National Joint Three-Wheeler Drivers and Industrial Workers' Association. Perera characterized the fuel price reduction as part of a broader policy that simultaneously increased prices for milk powder and wheat flour.
The regulatory framework for three-wheeler fares remains unclear, with different authorities pointing to jurisdictional constraints. According to Perera, the National Transport Commission has already prepared a revised fare structure and submitted it to the relevant ministry. However, the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority indicated it lacks the authority to implement fare changes, as oversight of three-wheeler charges falls under the National Transport Commission's purview.
Under the current officially recognized fare structure, passengers pay Rs. 110 for the first kilometer and Rs. 90 for each subsequent kilometer. Perera noted a gap between regulated and actual fares, stating that operators typically charge between Rs. 110 and Rs. 120 in practice. He attributed this discrepancy to the proposed new fare structure not yet being formally implemented as law. Perera expressed hope that the revised fares would be introduced through proper regulatory channels in the near future.