Media Gallery
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Budget taxi – Three wheelers
The 3Wheel Lanka is introduce the three wheel Metered taxi service in Srilanka. 3Wheel Lanka is currently providing this service by more than 600 three Wheelers in Srilanka.
The Three Wheel Budget Taxi is charging Rs. 30.00 per KM.
Tata Nano Budget Taxi
The 3Wheel Lanka introduce new budget metered taxi service with the introduction of TATA Nano. Currently 3Wheel Lanka operates its service by 11 Brand New TATA Nano cars, and looking forward to increase to 25 Nano cars by end of this month.
Budgeted Taxi Fairs
First 2 Km: |
Rs.100.00 |
Additional Km: |
Rs.40.00 |
Waiting time charges
Per Minutes: |
Rs.2.50 |
Per Hours: |
Rs.150.00 |
Service Locations
Currently the services are providing in Colombo, Kandy and Kalutara.
Colombo: |
11 Branches |
Kandy: |
1 Branch |
Kalutara: |
1 Branch |
Service time
The Budgeted taxi services are provided the time between Morning 6.00 AM to 12.00 Midnight and 365 days.
3Wheel Lanka Budgeted Taxi Hotline: |
011 7 299 299 |
Website: |
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Source: Mr.Kelum Jaya sumana
Managing Director Three Wheel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
: Colombo, Prasanna’s Observations.
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Daily mirror 2007/05/16
Are three wheelers really cost effective?
I write to bring to your notice the shocking expenditure the state and the tax payers of this country are called upon to bear as a result of negligent and careless use of our roads.
While visiting a patient at the National Hospital, I noticed a patient with all his limbs in plaster an even his jaw had shifted- the result of a three wheeler accident.
The front wheel of the three-wheeler taxi had come of and the man had suffered extensive injuries which will keep him at the national Hospital for at least three months. The orthopedic problems caused by road accident can be minimized if we have a better safety policy.
The doctors told me that the surgical steel prosthetics and the nuts and bolt alone will cost well over half a million rupees.
This is money that will be paid by the government and eventually all the tax payers of the country. The salaries of medical staff, the cost of hospitalization and other charges to the state will be in addition to the half a million rupees of tax payer’s money this man with gobble up.
I do not grudge the treatment of an accident victim, but there is a largest issue of road safety that we should address if we are to spend money on education, buying desks and chairs for our children, improving our roads, electricity, irrigation etc. I am told treating these victims, mostly those involved in some from accident with a three-wheeler cost a huge amount of money for the health department. Have there been any safety criteria before we allowed these dangerous vehicles on our roads?
At first glance, the three-wheelers may seem a cheaper mode of transport, but the entire country is paying a very high price for it.
Over to you, Transport Minister.
Sunil Mendis,
Colombo
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The island, Tuesday 6th March, 2007
Two-stroke trishaws in Sri Lanka
In view of the current debate and controversy over the operation of 2-stroke engine 3-wheelers in Sri Lanka, we have thought it pertinent to express some of our views as the manufacturer of 2-stoke engine Bajaj 3-wheelers.
At the outset, we would like to clarify that Bajaj produce 2-stroke gasoline, 2-stroke LPG, 2-stoke CNG, 4-stoke CNG as also diesel 3-wheelers, which are used for both passenger and goods applications. The entire above product are marketed in India and many other countries.
The Indian emission regulation history has evolved, on a very sound basis and the emission norms which came into effect in 1991 have progressively been tightened in 1996, in 200 and in 2005. The next stage of norms are likely to come into effect from, 2010, the current norms in India are among the tightest in the world.
Bajaj 3 wheelers have continuously improved over the said period to meet the emission norms cited above. The company supplies a range of its 3-wheelers to many countries outside of India.
It is not true that Bajaj sells its 2-stroke 3-wheelers only to Sri Lanka. Almost 55% of our domestic three-wheeler sales in India are made up of 2-stroke 3-wheelers. We also export our 2-stroke 3-wheelers to Sudan, Nigeria, Peru, Somalia, Tanzania, etc.
It is our strong belief that air quality needs to be improved and environmental pollution concerns need to be addressed. It is also our strong belief that most governmental agencies are not equipped to fully understand the various product technologies. As such, they should restrict their domain to mandating the desired norms developed along with industry and other relevant entities, leaving the choice of technology to the vehicle manufactures.
Further, it is implementation friendly & desirable to draw a road map for attacking this air quality problem so that efforts of all agencies can be aligned to the road map. For example, the vehicle manufactures, component manufactures, the oil industry, the petro products dispensing infrastructure for various for various fuels, etc. should be involved to develop a holistic approach which is more successful than one-off mandates. India has effectively followed this approach. To cite another example, EU also devised its road map from Euro-I norms from 1992 onwards in practical stage ensuring that all concerned agencies align to these norms and the targets are laid out.
The Indian authorities have understood the importance of neither mandating nor banning particular technologies. In fact, this has allowed us to further our research on 2-stroke as well as 4-strokes. Today’s 2-stroke engines, in terms of emission performance and fuel efficiency, are far superior to what they were a few years back.
In the next stage of evolution norms, we anticipate that electronic control and engine management will come into play. Once this happens on a mass scale, we are able to further optimize the 2-stroke in terms of emission and performance (by electronically controlling combustion cycles and optimizing) while retaining the specific inherent benefits of 2-strokes like less number of parts, better power to weight ratio, lower initial and maintenance cost, etc, in fact. We are at the pre-mass testing stage on our 2-stroke direct` injection 3-wheelers in India. Given the current norms, the relative deference between 2-stroke and 4-stroke. Technologies from emission angle are marginal any way. It will be counter productive if such cutting edge research were ...to be abandoned on account of any illogical banning of specific technologies by governmental authorities.
While 2-stroke is significantly more efficient in CO and NOx emission, 4-stroke are more efficient in HC emission. But the differentials are in a smaller band, given the strict norms.
You will find that above table that the 2-stroke engines are good and well within the current norms. If may also be noted that Bajaj 2-stroke three-wheelers also confirm to the mask emission standards in India as per tests conducted by the automotive research association of India, which is mandatory for all manufactures in India. We may also inform you that our results in the case of our new direct injection 2-stroke three-wheelers are yielding even better results.
EU norms |
CO 7.0 g/km |
HC 1.5 g/km |
NOx 0.4 g/km |
Indians norms |
CO 2.25 g/km |
HC + NOx 2.0 g/km |
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TUV test data |
CO 0.77 g/km |
HC 1.14 g/km |
NOx 0.05 g/km |
It may be interesting to note that the usage of CNG and LPG as alternate fuels. In many Indian cities, mainly to eradicate the adulteration pollution load reduction. These are the initiatives where the Government can play a strong positive role.
Bajaj is conscious of its role in providing environmentally friendly technology to the world and as and when Bajaj has changed products/technology for better environmental performance in India, the same improved products have been supplied also to Sri Lanka so indirectly, Sri Lanka has benefited from the substantial tightening of norms in India.
While the emission norms apply to newly manufactured products, it is the vehicle pollution, of varying vintage on the roads that primarily accounts for the emission lord and air quality. India has also developed good models for addressing the vehicle park issue. Since the 3-wheelers specially are product which give self employment, and serve as breadwinners for many poor middle class families, the Indian authorities have device innovate schemes coupled with reasonable time lines-for upgrading the vehicle park without affecting the social fabric. For example in cities like Mumbai, Pune, etc. vehicle over the specified age(8 years in case of Mumbai, 15 years in case of Pune and so on) are to be retrofitted with LPG/CNG(as the case may be) or are to be replace with new once. Delhi government as provided some tax incentives to facilitate the change over to CNG as it did for all other commercial vehicles. (Even Delhi did not ban 2-strokes, and but only mandated CNG use.) In the case of two wheelers, Italy a system of trade-ins and tax sops for modernizing its fleet. This was given at the time of economic down turn and hence aided industrial recovery as well, by generating demand. Sri Lanka can benefit from such time tested practice in EU and in India.
Sanjiv Bajaj
Executive Director,
Bajaj Auto Ltd, India
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Daily news 03/03/2007
Why two stroke three-wheelers should be banned
Today interested parties are taking up issues to prevent the intended ban of the two-stroke engine of the three-wheelers presently used in Sri Lanka Theban is to take effect from about one year’s time-that there will be no further imports of three-wheelers after one year. In the meantime, of course all the present three-wheelers can all continue to be use as in the past. The present three-wheeler drivers can certainly continue to drive there vehicles.
There will be no question of any of them losing their jobs or their dependents having a loss of income, as put out by those now opposing the ban. Of course the Government says it will permit the import of spears for these three-wheelers will be able to maintain their vehicles till at least 2011. If a serious problem occurs about the need for spears over along period, then the Government could assess the situation, and even permit the import of spears for another two years.
Having said all this, it must be understood and appreciated that the intended ban in one year’s time is being imposed as it constitutes a health hazard to our people. In view of this, even other countries have now banned the use of the two-stroke engine in three-wheelers. If the ban is not imposed, the government will be held responsible exposing our people to health hazard that could well occur. Other countries have also taken steps to enforce the ban we are now intending to enforce. As it is now being revealed in the media that in view of the impending ban, the sales of these two-stroke three-wheelers is rapidly increasing, and in January of this year, sales have rocketed to over 4000 three-wheelers for the month, and this may jump to unprecedented sales of these three-wheelers before the ban comes in to effect. This will certainly increase the health hazards that our people are going to be exposed to, and perhaps it is even time to bring in the ban without any further delay. It must be understood that the country must realize the importance of not causing any further health hazards to our people with a health service that is not all that capable of handling the problems of the people’s health care now on its hands.
Whilst the intended ban for health reasons is by itself sufficient to hold back the further import of these two-stroke three-wheelers, there is also another serious problem caused by these three-wheeler drivers. They openly violate traffic regulations on the highways, and virtually do not care a damn for other users on the roads. They openly violate the observances of the traffic light, rules for one way, etc. on the high ways. Most of these drivers move right in the centre of the road, even some times without any passengers, preventing the smooth working of the highways. At the roundabouts when other vehicle drivers slow down to give way to traffic on the right, we find the three-wheeler driver from behind creeping in through the space provided for right of way to other vehicles to pass through, and causing problems to the vehicles who are ready to move on. This constitutes a real danger to car drivers as the three-wheelers creeps in between vehicles and attempts to speed off. If the car driver is not watchful, he will certainly crash into three-wheeler as he attempts to creep through. This is common occurrence on the highways.
Whilst about 10 to 15 percent are fair and reasonable, most of the other three-wheeler drivers cause grave problems to other motorist on the highway. They cannot be controlled and even turn abusive often when peoples try to correct them. Really most of the three-wheeler drivers are a menace on the highways and cause a grave danger to other motorists. Certain parts are removed by the three-wheeler drivers to enable them to cut and swerve, and ass a result you find the three-wheeler driver cutting fine by you and marking his way. Even the side plate of the three-wheelers to prevent a passenger from getting off, is taken of the vehicle, and any one trying to move from the right of the three-wheeler may find himself in grave danger, if he is over-run by and oncoming vehicle.
Whilst the association of three-wheeler drivers is writing so much of the problem resulting from the ban-which are only imaginary-one wonders what the association has been doing all this time. What attempt has it made to discipline its drivers, see that they observe the rules of the high- ways- are not abusive. They have just said nothing or done nothing about marking its drivers observe of traffic rules is this country-violating all the traffic laws that are prevailing. Stopping in the centre of the road to pick up and drop passengers, thereby preventing the smooth floor of traffic. They even park on narrow roads, causing enough problems to the pedestrians.
Let us look at this whole problem practically and in the greater interests of the country. Today we have enough and more 2-stroke three-wheelers country. Three-wheelers are just park waiting for hires. The three-wheeler drivers themselves say that there is a drop in income and they all attribute it to the excessive number of three-wheelers in this country. When you look around one is more than convents that there are enough and more three-wheelers in this country and really we do not any more. What we have is enough more to provide transport at the cheapest cost which the three-wheelers are doing, particularly for the poor, who cannot afford taxies etc. More three-wheelers will also mean further problem for the country, where traffic has virtually ground to a halt. We often find three-wheelers just going empty and preventing other vehicles from moving ahead. It is obstructing the free floor of traffic and causing further traffic jam. A reduction in the number of the vehicles is what the country needs today. When we have enough and more three-wheelers –a number just lying idle-do we need to import any further three-wheelers with the two-stroke engines where we have enough more also because of the health hazards our peoples are exposed to?
As it stands therefore, no serious problems will be caused by the intended ban on the two-stroke engine fitted to three-wheelers in the future. There is employment of the present three-wheeler drivers for a fair period of time. There are enough and more three-wheelers of this type to provide for the needs of our people-with thousands of three-wheelers even lying idle. The country certainly does not need any more of these three-wheelers. It also needs to be concerned about the health hazards to which our people could be exposed to. The problems on our highways-where traffic has virtually ground to a halt. Whilst solving the health problems, it will also be able to ride the highways of its grave problems by the reduction of vehicles.
A lot of financial interests are stake. Billons have been made through the import of these vehicles, and naturally these sources are fighting hard to keep the imports going. Even lending companies seem to be buying something like 50 or more vehicle monthly and offering easy credit terms. The resistance is not coming other than from the sources that will stand to loss so much if the ban comes in to operations.
In the greater interest of the country and its people that the government should go ahead with the ban and not go down pressure from interested sources. It should stand firm and do what is right by the country and its people.
MAURICE LORD
Colombo 13
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The Sunday times April 22 2007
Save us from this three-wheeler mafia
One has heard of the pharmaceutical mafia, the medical mafia, the educational mafia but perhaps not of the three-wheeler mafia that has just emerged as a powerful force.
I am and 82 year old pensioner, entirely dependent on three-wheelers for mobility. Every time I engage one, my already weekend heart stutters a bit not only because of the physical risk involved but due to the end result of a fair that can very with the whim and fancy of the driver.
I live 2 to 3km from town- the metered fair involved is Rs.100 to Rs. 200. I dare not argue for I have been subjected to insults and near assault several times. I have spoken to many drivers to say that the installation of a meter would not only be mutually beneficial but also increase their customer base and most of them seem to agree- but who is to bell the cat?
So how about the honorable minister or ministers? Could you not help both three-wheel operators and the now exploited public by marking it compulsory for all three-wheelers to run on a metered fair or would you concept of democracy make you not interfere in the free running exploitation of the three-wheel mafia?
Uncle John
Kandy
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Daily mirror Tuesday February 27 2007
Three-wheelers petition: committee to review decision
By S.S.Selvanayagam
When the fundamental rights violation petition challenging the purported cabinet decision to ban the importation of 2-stroke three-wheelers as well as its spear-parts came up before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, deputy solicitor general informed court that a committee had been appointed to review about the decision.
She moved for time to obtain further instruction, in the circumstances, the Bench comprising Justices Shirani.A.Bandaranayake, Andrew Somawansa and the Balapatabendi re-fixed the matter for support on March 22.
Three-wheeler drivers also alleged that the purported decision of the Cabinet was based on collateral consideration, which might have been a result of misleading information furnished by wasted interest that were likely to benefit from the implementation of the ban.
All Island Three-Wheeler Drivers Welfare Association in its petition sited central environmental authority, its chairman Karunasena Hettiarachi, Commissioner of motor traffic B. Wijerathne, environment and natural resource Ministry Secretary M.A.R.D. Jayathilaka, David Peiris Motor Company Ltd, Secretary to the Cabinet D.Wijesinghe, Members of the Cabinet and the Attorney General as respondents.
They are inter alias asking the court to direct the relevant respondents to take steps to implement regular resting of motor vehicles of all classes and categories to secure effective and meaningful compliance with the vehicular emission standards lawfully required to be met.
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The Island 26/02/2007
Trishaw operators accept challenge
My challenge to Mendis is to demonstrate his claim that two stroke engine three-wheelers excessively pollute the air with row gasoline and engine oil particle and his statement that the moving parts 2-stroke engine move at twice the sped of 4-stroke engines, and hence their wear and tear is twice as past. Mendis can contact me c/o of the “All Island Three-Wheeler Drivers Welfare Association at No 19/4,Carmel Rd, Kollupitiya, Colombo 03”, to fix a mutually convenient date, time and menu for him to demonstrate his claims to my membership and my self. While my membership and I shall glade you provide vehicles for the demonstration, Mendis will have to bring his own human volunteers for the rather unconventional test procedure advocated by him, which is tantamount to gassing of human beans akin to the manner in which stray canines are exterminated by some municipalities.
Having belittled our vehicles now our colleagues by suggesting that we be human guinea pigs in a weird experiment, Mendis also insults my intelligence by adverting to a ghost writer who is penning article for me. Notwithstanding, I categorically state that Mendis is wrong in his claim on the contents and extent of pollution from 2-stroke engine, and hence their wear and tear is twice as past and that 2-sroke engine three-wheelers are banned in India. However eagerly await Mendis to prove me wrong through the gassing of his human volunteers and other such measures he might adopt during his demonstration.
Lalith Dharmasekara
President,
All Island Three-Wheeler Drivers Welfare Association.
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The Island 22/02/2007
Trishaw ban…the voice of the voiceless
We are indeed beholden to Mr. Lalith Dharmasekara, President, and All Island Three- Wheeler Drivers Welfare Association, for his very scientific and logical explanation as regards 2-stroke trishaws. As the word 2-stroke and 4-stroke is involved the 4-stroke would have greater oil consumption. In my study tours of India, the trishaws I travel around in have 2-stroke engines and there is no ban on 2-stroke trishaws in India. 2-stroke trishaws are ubiquitous in India. This ban may be a strategy to displays 2-stroke trishaws produce by Bajaj Company to permit a 4-stroke trishaws importer to have a field day. The new environmental minister should contact the Bajaj Company of India and the scientific institution of India and get a clarification on the issue.
Pollution is caused not by 2-stroke trishaws, but by belching buses and Lorries. The environmental minister should not discriminate against the poor 2-stroke trishaw operators who without becoming and economic burden on the country are self-employed and providing cheap transport services to the less-privileged millions. The chief importer of trishaws messes. David Peiris and company should rice in support of the 2-stroke trishaw operators, and not allow charlatans to defame and disparage 2-stroke trishaws. If India has not banned 2-stroke trishaws why should Sri Lanka do so? Sri Lanka is a country where minions try to become experts and scientists. Let me again congratulate Mr. Lalith Dharmasekara for his challenge to Mr. Mendis for an open air particle investigation on the issue.
Rohan Jayathilaka,
Kandy.
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The Island Wednesday 21ST February 2007
Trishaw ban and that challenge
Thank you for devoting so much space to the debate on the forthcoming ban on 2-stroke engines. Your newspaper highest provided a free platform for opposing views. We are all entitled to our own opinions, but we are not entitled to ‘our own facts’.
Just before my field of education was mechanical engineering, today you do not need to take my word, for that of the obvious ghost writer behind the three-wheeler driver’s welfare association. A was amount of scientific research is available to the public and I invite the Island newspaper to commission transport and engineering experts to enlighten your readers on the merits demerits of 2-stroke engines why they should have been banned along time ago.
Make no mistake, 4-stroke engines are also polluting, but less so compared to the cheaply made 2-stroke engines fitted to Bajaj three-wheelers.
I gladly take up the challenge of the three-wheeler driver’s association president, or the person who is penning the articles on his behalf, to prove that 2-stroke engine is far more polluting than and equivalent 4-stroke machine.
The three-wheeler driver’s association, I am sure, will provide volunteers for this test which can be carried out very easily. Here is how we do it.
- Take to healthy members of the three-wheeler driver’s association (according to president of the association, all three-wheeler drivers are in pristine health and have no known respiratory problems)
- Connect exhaust fumes from a 2-stroke three-wheeler to a confined space with no ventilation.
- Connect exhaust fumes from a 4-stroke three-wheeler (of the same vintage and approximately the same mileage) to a confined space similar to the space maintain about.
- Send the two three-wheeler drivers to the respective confined space and start both engines at the same time. Keep the motors running. Check with drivers faints first.
I am marking a link from howstuffworks.com (a widely accepted authority) to explain in simple language the different between 2-stroke engine and 4-stroke once htpp://scince.howstuffworks.com/two-stroke6.htm you may have seen the latest statement from the Bajaj Company saying they are not unduly worried about the 2-stroke ban in Sri Lanka.
They face a similar ban in Egypt and now send only 4-stroke machine that country. Nepal and the all the big metropolitan cities in India have banned 2-stroke engine vehicles. That is a fact. Not my opinion.
Now hear is my opinion I believe that the ban on 2-stroke engine vehicles will not hit any three-wheeler driver. It cannot. Because the ban will not apply to existing three-wheeler there is no move to stop the import of three-wheelers.
Sunil Mendis
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Daily News Friday January 05 2007
Importation of 2-stroke three-wheelers to be stopped
Rajmi manathunga
Colombo: the government is to stop the importation of 2-stroke three-wheelers owing to the harmful effect they have the environment.
Environment and Natural Resources Minister Maitripala Sirisena said he has presented a cabinet memorandum seeking a ban on the importation of 2-stroke three-wheelers which have vastly contributed to air pollution especially in the Capitol.
“Once the proposal is approved, we will allow only 4-stroke three-wheeler to be brought to the country. It has been scientifically proven that the pollutants released to the air by 4-stroke trishaws are less.”
According to the Central environmental Authority, over 90 percent of three-wheeler used in Sri Lanka are 2-stroke the marginally higher price of the 4-stroke kind has led more people to opt for the 2-stroke three-wheeler
