Sri Lanka’s fragile tourism comeback is facing an uncomfortable truth: some visitors are now getting a live demonstration in how not to manage public roads. In high-profile destinations like Ella, informal transport groups are reportedly turning the streets into something between a medieval fiefdom and an audition for a mafia movie, while policing — critics say — oscillates between “absent” and “mildly curious.”
Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka PLC, the folks behind PickMe, have officially tapped the Inspector General of Police on the shoulder. Their complaint? Independent drivers are being harassed, assaulted, and occasionally told to get off the roads, all while video evidence is making the rounds on social media for everyone to admire. It’s no longer just a turf dispute over fares; according to PickMe, it’s a full- blown public order concern. CEO Jiffry Zulfer reminds us — constitutionally, no one has the authority to declare “exclusive control” over roads or tourist hotspots, despite what some enterprising locals might think.
Tourism insiders are fretting — and not without reason. Visitors expecting serenity now witness roadblocks, shouting matches, and the occasional fistfight, courtesy of competing transport clans. Reputational damage, as any social media manager will tell you, travels faster than any official reassurance. One viral clip can undo a month of marketing and leave the nation’s image in tatters.
Then there’s the economics lesson disguised as intimidation. Exclusive zones, PickMe warns, allow price fixing, restrict consumer choice, and compel both tourists and locals to pay inflated fares. Economists nod gravely: unchecked, such practices distort local economies, punish compliant operators, and reward the most aggressive driver with a loud horn and a bigger wallet.
And the law? Well, some drivers claim the police have been politely suggesting they vacate contested areas rather than actually enforcing the law. Whether selective enforcement or its mere perception, legal experts note, it’s damaging enough to make visitors wonder if they’ve stumbled onto a dystopian reality show.
More than 100,000 Sri Lankan families rely on digital mobility platforms for their livelihoods — meaning this is not just a quarrel over rideshare apps. As the government pushes ahead with its National Digitisation Strategy 2025, platforms like PickMe are no longer optional; they’re part of essential economic infrastructure. In a letter to the IGP, PickMe has asked for written directives reaffirming drivers’ right to operate freely and a zero-tolerance stance against organizedintimidation.
Whether Sri Lanka responds decisively, or lets the turf wars roll on, may very well signal how seriously the country intends to uphold the rule of law — at least in places where tourists can actually see it. Until then, visitors may have to pack patience alongside their sunblock.
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