Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa has highlighted the plight of small-scale taxi services due to the inclusion of the services of large-scale private taxi companies, such as PickMe and Uber, at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.
Speaking in Parliament today, MP Premadasa stated that the livelihoods of over 2000 small-scale taxi drivers have been severely affected due to this decision.
MP Premadasa pointed out that small-scale taxi drivers are already suffering due to the impacts of the pandemic and economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
He further stated the latest decision by the government to allow private taxi services to operate at the airport has further affected the livelihoods of small-scale taxi drivers.
“Granting approval for such large-scale private taxi companies to operate at the Katunayake Airport is a wrong decision and unfair to small-scale taxi drivers,” he emphasized.
MP Premadasa requested the authorities to safeguard the jobs of the over 2000 small-scale taxi drivers, when including the services of private taxi companies.
He also requested the subject ministers to look into the matter and introduce a system that will protect the small-scale taxi drivers as well. (NewsWire)