Sri Lanka Taxi

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean with a well-developed infrastructure, especially with a well-maintained road network. The transport system of Sri Lanka is considered to be one of the best in southern Asia. If you are a traveller you that would probably like to know what possibilities are there for tourists to get around the country.

There are a number of possibilities with regards to travelling in Sri Lanka such as Buses, trains, self-drive cars, motorbiking as well as taxis. Sri Lanka taxis are one of the significant transport facilitators on the island, undoubtedly which is the most popular way of travelling on Sri Lanka trips.

Sri Lanka Taxi is a very safe and comfortable transport method compared to the bus or train they are often very crowded. Taxis are a not only safe but also very comfortable way of getting around Sri Lanka.

Unlike a few decades ago, one can find a well-developed network of taxis in the country today. Taxis can be obtained in all cities around Sri Lanka.  It may be difficult for foreign travellers to identify the taxis in Sri Lanka since they have no distinct colour or Taxi sign on the roof of the vehicle.

Most of the time the number of taxi facilitators can be observed on the body of the vehicle with a Taxi sign and it is clearly visible to the outside. The most popular method of ordering a taxi in Sri Lanka is through the telephone and one needs to wait 10-15 minutes before the taxi arrives. The prices are charged for the distance and prices are varied depending on the taxi facilitator.

Taxis are provided with taxi counters in all hotels in Colombo and other leading hotels around the country. Finding a Taxi service provider on the island is not a daunting task, because there are a hundred Taxi service providers on the island. Some of the Taxi service providers offer island-wide taxi services with branches in most Sri Lankan cities and some other taxi service providers have only a few branches in major cities like Kandy and Colombo.

There are taxi stations in the cities, where one can get taxis but it seems to be difficult to find the exact place where the taxis are stationed, especially for foreigners. By paying some attention to places such as railway stations, bus stands, and religious places one might be able to find the taxi stations while they are mostly located in such places.

Most of the taxis in Sri Lanka are air-conditioned but there are some none air-conditioned taxis as well. Prices may change the availability of air-conditioning in the vehicle. Taxis can be hired only for a particular hire or for a, even months. There are few international companies on the island that offer self-driven vehicles, even though it is not a very popular way of travelling in Sri Lanka for most foreigners. These international Self-driven taxi providers are mainly confined to major tourist hubs such as Colombo, Kandy and Galle.

However, the popularity of self-driven vehicles is on the rise among the local people, therefore many local self-driven vehicles providing companies, as well as a large number of individuals, who are providing this service, are scattered around the island. Therefore it is not a daunting task to get hold of the self-driven vehicle on the island anymore.

Air Taxi service on the island was completed ceased indefinitely after the terrorist attack on a few aircraft by the terrorist in northern Sri Lanka. Same time the government suspected a possible terrorist attack on the island using small aircraft. However, the air taxi service is available on the island as the terrorist problem is eliminated since 2009.

Air taxi service is offered by only a few companies, however, they have regional offices in major cities like Kandy, making it easy to book air taxis to travel around the country. This is the most expensive mode of transport, however, it is comfortable and fast.

TUK TUK, a small vehicle with three wheels is another popular transport method in Sri Lanka and they are to be found in all corners of the island. The TUK TUK can be considered as a motor-driven rickshaw, which stands on three wheels. Unlike in a rickshaw, the pulling power is coming from a small motor, fixed into the rear part of the vehicle.

TUK TUK is mostly found in Asian countries like India, Bangladesh and Thailand, this small vehicle is known as the Auto-Rikshas in India. Sri Lankan people call it TUK TUK, because it makes a “TUK TUK” sound once the engine is started.

TUK TUK is a very economical transport method though they are considered not comfortable or safe as normal taxis. Many TUK TUKs do not carry taximeters, making it expensive and difficult for passengers on most occasions, because these TUK TUKs do not have a standard rate on the ride, it is strongly advised to discuss the fare with the driver before commencing the journey in this kind of situation. 

TUK TUK can be recommended for a short trip that lasts not more than 1 hour, rather than a long journey. TUK TUK is not installed with air-conditioning while the commuters get the fresh breeze from outside through the opened doors.