The project is being implemented by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) under the direction of the Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera in keeping with the budget proposals presented last year.
The Budget 2018 proposed a tourism training and certification program for three-wheeler drivers who are above 21 years of age, in tourist areas. SLTDA has developed the basic curriculum for a two-day training course and test, after which the driver would receive a certification of completion, stickers and a photo identification card that must be displayed in the tuk-tuk.
At Monday's event, the Prime Minister will symbolically award the certificates and the seal of approval to 150 tuk-tuk drivers who have successfully completed the training provided by the SLTDA. The certified tuk-tuk drives can display the seal on their three-wheeler allowing local and foreign tourists to easily identified the trained drivers and obtain their services.
Training and educating three-wheeler drivers will help increase their individual incomes, and the local economy of the community, while providing safer and more organized travel choices for tourists, according to SLTDA.Following the inauguration the certified three-wheelers displaying the seal will parade the city