Ride-Hailing Drivers Face Harassment, PickMe Appeals to Police

Ride-hailing platform PickMe has written to the Inspector General of Police requesting stronger protection for its drivers and consistent law enforcement, following reports of harassment and violence by groups of three-wheeler operators in several tourist locations.

In a statement, the company said the letter was prompted by a series of incidents in Ella and other tourism hotspots, where independent drivers using ride-hailing apps had allegedly faced physical assaults, damage to vehicles and obstruction of public roads. Some of these incidents had been recorded on video and circulated widely online.

According to PickMe, the confrontations appear to stem from resistance by some three-wheeler groups seeking to limit competition and maintain control over passenger fares in popular destinations. The company expressed concern over what it described as selective law enforcement, noting instances where app-based drivers were reportedly asked to leave by police officers instead of being protected.

PickMe has called for clear instructions from police headquarters to all stations, particularly in tourist-sensitive areas, to ensure that lawful transport providers can operate without intimidation. The company also urged a zero-tolerance approach toward organised intimidation and what it referred to as “mafia-style” tactics directed at drivers using digital platforms.

The firm requested that written circulars be issued reaffirming that public roads and tourist sites cannot be treated as exclusive zones by informal groups. “Every Sri Lankan citizen has a constitutional right to lawful employment and freedom of movement,” PickMe CEO Jiffry Zulfer said, warning that continued incidents of harassment could damage the country’s image among visitors.

He added that the visibility of such incidents on social media risks undermining Sri Lanka’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination at a time when the tourism industry is working toward recovery.