The minimum age for driving a three-wheeler in Sri Lanka could be raised to 40 years, Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage has said.

Both Ada Derana and Hiru News reported the remarks as a proposal rather than a decision. Hiru quoted the Deputy Minister as saying the change “has been proposed”, and gave no timetable for it; Ada Derana reported that the age could be increased “in the future”. No draft regulation or amendment was cited by either outlet.

The stated rationale

The measure is intended to discourage young people from turning to three-wheeler driving immediately after they finish school, the Deputy Minister said.

Hewage told Hiru News the government also expects to bring three-wheeler operation under proper regulation more broadly, saying it wants the sector governed under a defined methodology rather than left to operate as it does now.

He made the remarks while setting out the government’s focus on developing the country’s human resources through education and vocational training. Sri Lanka’s future depends on producing a skilled younger generation, he said, which he described as essential to turning the country into a developed nation.

“The future of our country lies in the hands of our children. A developed human resource is what will eventually make Sri Lanka a developed country. As a government, we are giving priority to human resource development. That is why we have introduced education reforms. We believe there needs to be a major transformation in education,” Hewage said.

Context

Three-wheelers are among the most common forms of hired transport in Sri Lanka and a significant source of self-employment, particularly for young men leaving school without formal qualifications. Neither outlet stated the current minimum age for a three-wheeler licence, nor how many drivers would be affected.

The proposal comes as the government moves on several transport-regulation fronts. From 2028, roadworthiness certificates are to replace the current emission testing regime for vehicles. The Deputy Minister’s ministry is separately pursuing reforms that would integrate NVQ vocational qualifications into the school curriculum.

Update: Cabinet spokesman says no such proposal has been considered, August 25

The government has not considered the proposal at all, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said on Tuesday, two days after the Deputy Minister’s remarks.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing at the Department of Government Information, Jayatissa said the proposal to raise the minimum age for three-wheeler drivers had not yet been taken up by the government and that no decision had been made on any specific age limit, Ada Derana reported.

He placed the idea in a wider category of unsolicited input. Various proposals had been received from individuals and institutions on providing vocational education and training to people who left school early or after sitting the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination, he said. Some of those proposals are already being implemented and others remain under discussion.

“The government will make the final decision on what should be implemented,” Jayatissa said.

Ada Derana explicitly framed the statement as a response to the Deputy Minister’s remarks, which it attributed to “Nalinda Hewage” — a variant of the “Nalin Hewage” both it and Hiru News used on August 23.

The denial does not contradict the Deputy Minister’s own wording. Both outlets reported him on August 23 as describing a proposal rather than a decision, and neither cited a draft regulation. What Tuesday’s briefing establishes is that the proposal has not reached the Cabinet table.

Sources